“Difficult Knowledge” and the Holocaust in History Education

Abstract

The history of the Holocaust is widely taught in schools around the world. In this chapter, Holocaust education is conceptualized as the most widely recognized example of school history that encourages encounters with difficult knowledge. The authors analyze why the Holocaust is so widely included in history curriculum, with a focus on the range of curricula, teaching resources, and organizations that support teachers’ instructional choices. The theoretical lens of difficult knowledge is engaged as a critique of and possible way forward in teaching and learning about the Holocaust and other difficult histories.