Our school recently took part in a community effort to get essays from students published in the local paper. The question they were writing a response to was, "Where in the world would you like to go, and why?" The answers from my 7th grade class were, predicatably, interesting and it was a joy reading their essays with not so much a critical eye, but more as a guide to the inner workings of their young minds. Some were funny. Some were serious. Some were offensive. Some were disturbing. It was a good slice of 7th grade pie.
One that resonated with me was unfortunately ineligible for sending to the paper. The student, bright and curious, had said that they wanted to visit Germany. The reason they gave was the problem though as I say, it was the paper I felt the most affinity for. The student wanted to visit Germany to see Hitler's house because they wanted to see where the great evil came from, and then they said that they wanted to go see what that evil had done, to reflect on what that evil means and how to fight against it.
Fantastic.
Forget for a moment the picture of having your Christian school's name next to an essay talking about visiting Hitler's house. I love the fact that the student wants to visit history...to be able to see the places that history happened in order to better understand that history.
Of course...once you recall the fact that this is a project for the paper...well, their essay gets good marks, though it will remain safely in my box...and only generically described here.
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