The brainlessness of an English Tutor. Fuming

The Holocaust Memorial Trust advises against using it in the classroom.
In some schools (in America mainly I think) it’s done via the History department.
The writer did absolutely no research in support of the writing
Interviews with children who have read the book make clear that it does have an impact on their knowledge about the Holocaust.
For age appropriate, well researched, well written books about this awful aspect of history check out the work of Tom Palmer. He also does free talks to schools on his work for Holocaust Memorial Day.

Incidentally I feel the pain with stupid people confusing fact and fiction. I'm Scottish and some of my countrymen are thick enough to believe Braveheart was a documentary. But hey can't fix stupid.😂

Again, be sensible. If you were to read the majority of fictional history of many important events they are littered with complete fiction. Read anything aimed at the American market, and if it were to be believed they won the war single handed.

Or read what were probably the best known of WW2 fictional books when I was growing up, written by Sven Hassel. Tales of daring do by German soldiers, written while Hassel was a prisoner during that time.

Just to add, on the subject of historical fiction, most people get their ‘knowledge’ of history from public history. And indeed there are many examples of inaccuracies, romanticisation and misrepresentation in historical fiction. And a lot of it doesn’t matter — regency romances are just romances in fancy dress, for example. But I’d argue that it really does matter how children are taught about the holocaust, which is why a book aimed at children should not be a friendship fable in concentration camp fancy dress.

Would that genre be historical fiction?

Desciption of the word fiction rom the OED:
literature in the form of prose that describes imaginary events and people.

A type of public history, yes.

Not saying it’s academic history, but it is a genre of historical writing.

My thoughts exactly. 😂

Historical fiction is a type of public history. That’s a fact.

Bridgerton and Outlander are seen as actual history???

Or all the alternative reality books?

Historical fiction is a type of public history. That’s a fact.

The poster who initially brought up The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas described it as a means to learn about history.

Your final paragraph shows no understanding of why people including holocaust historians and holocaust memorial institutions regard The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas as damaging to holocaust education. It also shows that you have not comprehended what the OP thought she was objecting to about the original book she mentioned.

Oh come on. There are thousands if not millions of fictional books set in times gone by, that are not accurate. It is in no way offered up as a learning tool. You name the subject, there will be a fictional book that those knowledgeable in it that will be able to quote inaccuracies within it.

The point that the child in question is already being exposed to far more brutal historical events than what was in the school book she is reading, or the book 'the boy in striped pyjamas', which is what you brought up, is entirely relevant.

But it's rated at 12 in other places...

That’s a bit disingenuous. Historical fiction is a form of history writing.

I’m not quite sure what you’re trying to say about exposure to descriptions of violence and torture, as I don’t think it has anything to do with the point I was making.

OP, you said you are a long time lurker, so if this is your first post, other sections than aibu do have some more thorough conversations without all the goodness me and eye rolling (but less traffic, I'm sure you know both of those things). I think it's an interesting subject personally.

Goodness me - Are you okay? Like what a nonsense poor teachers no wonder they leave the profession. This has enraged you like its caused you inner rage and wanting to verbally abuse a teacher. You are one of those Mum’s I think you have taken what the teacher said out of context and are making a drama. Get some real problems.

Why, can men not fuss?

But the book was never written as history. As far as descriptions of violence and torture. The twelve year old child will be getting exposed to this in history class anyway. Not just the holocaust, but much of history is taken up with wars and chopping wives heads off etc.

You’re an adult though. You had context before you started the book. Children of an age to read this almost certainly don’t.

Historians and Holocaust memorial organisations have criticised the book as damaging. I know school level history teachers who refuse to recommend it on the basis of its inaccuracy.

Same!! 😆 I don't know whose son he is! I was the one with Forever under my pillow!!

For a start, there weren’t any 9 year old boys in Auschwirz as they would have been gassed immediaely
Certainly wouldn’t have been able to wander about and make friends with the commandant’s son.
Humanises Bruno’s father
Trivialises the holocaust and the regime
Focus on the tragic accidental death of one little boy. No sense of the millions of Jews who died.