Seventy Ernest Righetti High School students enrolled in the school’s Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC 10) pilot program recently took a field trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, where they explored the history of the Holocaust, issues of social justice, and the importance of combating intolerance in today’s world.

The interdisciplinary learning experience that connected classroom studies with real-world historical perspectives brought together 70 sophomores and seven chaperones, including English, ERWC 10, and history teachers.

The ERWC 10 pilot program emphasizes rhetorical reading and analysis of nonfiction texts rather than traditional literature.

Through special pilot program funding and complimentary admission provided through the Museum of Tolerance’s Title I initiative, Righetti students were able to participate in the immersive educational experience.

During the visit, students were divided into small groups and received private guided tours of the museum.

The experience included exhibits documenting the Holocaust; personal testimonies from concentration camp survivors; and a walk-through model of a gas chamber that helped students better understand the realities faced by millions during World War II, teachers said.

Students also participated in the museum’s Social Lab, an interactive program that challenges participants to examine current global humanitarian issues and develop potential solutions to real-world problems.

The field trip served as the culminating activity for students’ study of “Night,” the memoir by Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Elie Wiesel.

By connecting their classroom learning to historical artifacts, survivor accounts, and contemporary issues, students gained a deeper understanding of the lasting impact of intolerance and the importance of civic responsibility, school officials said.

“This experience allowed students to move beyond the pages of a book and engage directly with history,” teachers said. “The opportunity to collaborate across English and history courses helped students make meaningful connections between literature, historical events, and current global challenges.”

Students described the experience as both impactful and educational.

“I liked that the museum was very interactive and really taught us about both the importance of intolerance and the Holocaust,” said sophomore Layla Limon.

“I liked when they gave us a visual representation of the gas chamber and the films we got to watch, and the artifacts like the prison clothes and clippings of inmates’ hair,” said Daige Torres, a sophomore.

“It was really educational and related the Holocaust to current world events, especially the importance of drawing a line of what we are willing to tolerate,” said Emilia Limon, a sophomore.