Pleasant Valley High School students hear Holocaust survivor’s story

CHICO — Chico students had a rare opportunity to meet living history Monday morning.

Joseph Alexander, a 101-year-old Holocaust survivor, spoke to the freshman class of Pleasant Valley High School on Monday morning, giving students a rare opportunity to learn his story in person.

Students, aged 14 to 15, spent two months this year learning about the Holocaust, reading the 1960 memoir “Night” by Elie Wiesel and creating found poetry with excerpts from the book.

One project exhibited before Monday’s talk had “take action” cards asking, “What will you do to help meet the challenge of genocide today?”

“I will  speak for those with no voice,” wrote student Conner Witzel.

Students listened to Alexander speak at the Center For The Arts of his losing family, never seeing them again; the split decisions that may have cost his life; and his trek through six camps — working in grueling conditions and witnessing death, yet keeping the will to survive.

During the session, Alexander responded to a student’s question, “What was a way that you continued to go on while you were in the camps?”

“What kept me going is I wanted to survive. … I speak to a lot of high school students, so far, like you, and I’m asked a lot of times — people gave up; they’d run to the electric fence … be beaten to death — do you ever think of giving up?

“I said, ‘no.’ I never thought of giving up. I never lost faith. I never stopped believing in God. And I said, ‘I may have a bad day today, but I hope tomorrow will be a better day.’ But never give up.”

Hearing stories told from Alexander himself left an impression on some students; many lined up to shake his hand and take pictures after.

Angelina Patterson compared his visit to reading a book, then watching the story come alive.

“To see him and know that he’s here and we went through all of that, and he’s still with us through the day is amazing,” Patterson said.

“When we’re reading about the Holocaust, they were talking about how they went into camps, and they had some pictures … He was kind of painting a picture for us, and I feel like it was better than just reading in a book.”

Will Pacheco-Sanchez said they were thankful that they might be the last class to be able to see a survivor in person.

“Even after all the hardships he’s gone through, and not knowing what happened to some of his family, he’s still willing to talk and educate those who are young and still learning about history,” said student Will Pacheco-Sanchez.

Alexander has been speaking for more than 25 years about his life surviving the Holocaust, and he currently speaks regularly at the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles.

“High school students — they are our future. … The only way today to stop another Holocaust is through education. So that’s why I talk,” Alexander said.

Students spent about 20 minutes asking questions candidly to Alexander. And though some questions may have received laughs from surrounding peers, Alexander responded candidly about his life.

Pleasant Valley High School English teacher Amy Besnard, who has been teaching Holocaust curriculum for about 26 years, helped arrange the visit Monday. Besnard presented Alexander with a $4,600 donation raised by ticket sales during his appearance at a public evening talk Sunday.

Besnard said her class reflected after the talk and spoke about the meaning of meeting someone who sits across from you, looks you in the eye and tells you their survival story.

“There’s lessons that go way beyond a book; that go beyond a classroom door, and I’m always interested in helping students understand the world better,” Besrard said. “As Joe mentioned today, he looks to these young people because they are the future. We hope through education that they grow to be well versed and knowledgeable about the world they live in.”