Anonymous
06/13/2026 00:50
Subject: Re:Diary of Anne Frank
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader is learning about The Diary of Anne Frank but apparently, they don't read the actual book, even though this is ENGLISH class. They just watched a movie about it and then did a "research" essay.
MCPS ELA instruction is trash.
That being said, my 7th grader's prompts and assignments from their teacher about The Diary of Anne Frank do talk about the Holocaust and World War II. So not sure why your kids omitted that context.
In 7th Grade, a core text is Tales from the Secret Annex. It’s not the diary.
https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/1GbCzfM3glwSUsf1DSYrYvCDhz4JgECgsStTaHLk8J3I/mobilebasic
Wow!!!
Replacing the Diary with the Tales strips away Anne Frank's identity as a victim of genocide, sanitizing the historical record and minimizing the Holocaust.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 20:19
Subject: Re:Diary of Anne Frank
Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader is learning about The Diary of Anne Frank but apparently, they don't read the actual book, even though this is ENGLISH class. They just watched a movie about it and then did a "research" essay.
MCPS ELA instruction is trash.
That being said, my 7th grader's prompts and assignments from their teacher about The Diary of Anne Frank do talk about the Holocaust and World War II. So not sure why your kids omitted that context.
In 7th Grade, a core text is Tales from the Secret Annex. It’s not the diary.
https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/1GbCzfM3glwSUsf1DSYrYvCDhz4JgECgsStTaHLk8J3I/mobilebasic
Anonymous
06/12/2026 20:17
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
My 8th grader read it in a lit circle, which means that all context was missing. Seems like a wasted opportunity.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 20:17
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
Anonymous wrote:English class:
Kid read the beginning of the Diary of Anne Frank and wrote some essays about friendship and parents.
No reading or discussion about WWII or the Holocaust.
What is going on?
My oldest graduated in 2024 and this was something he complained about when they read Anne Frank in middle school. No content, no history lessons.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 17:32
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
Our school used to do it in 8th but now it’s scheduled for 7th so my 8th grader missed it. But the 7th graders did it this year.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 17:17
Subject: Re:Diary of Anne Frank
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader is learning about The Diary of Anne Frank but apparently, they don't read the actual book, even though this is ENGLISH class. They just watched a movie about it and then did a "research" essay.
MCPS ELA instruction is trash.
That being said, my 7th grader's prompts and assignments from their teacher about The Diary of Anne Frank do talk about the Holocaust and World War II. So not sure why your kids omitted that context.
Is that clear from the title of the assignment in Canvas? Or do you only see it in the documents on Google Drive or handouts?
This was on their handout.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 17:12
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
My kid's class devoted a whole class period to discussing the historical context around the Diary, including geopolitical events, WWII, and the Holocaust. I think they're also getting to watch a play or movie on Anne Frank next week.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 17:07
Subject: Re:Diary of Anne Frank
Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader is learning about The Diary of Anne Frank but apparently, they don't read the actual book, even though this is ENGLISH class. They just watched a movie about it and then did a "research" essay.
MCPS ELA instruction is trash.
That being said, my 7th grader's prompts and assignments from their teacher about The Diary of Anne Frank do talk about the Holocaust and World War II. So not sure why your kids omitted that context.
Is that clear from the title of the assignment in Canvas? Or do you only see it in the documents on Google Drive or handouts?
Anonymous
06/12/2026 16:55
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
Neither of mine read it at MCPS.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 16:54
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
My MCPS 7th grader read the book, took a WebQuest on Intro to the Holocaust, and watched a documentary on Path to Nazi Genocide. I think teachers have discretion in what they teach based upon the school.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 16:50
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
Anonymous wrote:English class:
Kid read the beginning of the Diary of Anne Frank and wrote some essays about friendship and parents.
No reading or discussion about WWII or the Holocaust.
What is going on?
Pyle did a whole unit where the kids read the full book and learned about the holocaust. They even had a holocaust survivor come and speak. Sounds like it’s a problem with your school.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 16:05
Subject: Re:Diary of Anne Frank
My 7th grader is learning about The Diary of Anne Frank but apparently, they don't read the actual book, even though this is ENGLISH class. They just watched a movie about it and then did a "research" essay.
MCPS ELA instruction is trash.
That being said, my 7th grader's prompts and assignments from their teacher about The Diary of Anne Frank do talk about the Holocaust and World War II. So not sure why your kids omitted that context.
MCPS ELA instruction is trash.
That being said, my 7th grader's prompts and assignments from their teacher about The Diary of Anne Frank do talk about the Holocaust and World War II. So not sure why your kids omitted that context.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 15:41
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
I’m impressed your kid got to read it. Our english teacher originally said they were reading it but changed it saying it was too hard.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 15:34
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
Anonymous wrote:English class:
Kid read the beginning of the Diary of Anne Frank and wrote some essays about friendship and parents.
No reading or discussion about WWII or the Holocaust.
What is going on?
I think you are correct in that students should be provided context to a reading. The genius of Anne Frank is that exists poignantly on more than one level: adults tend to focus on the horror and fear within which the families lived. Younger people often focus on fraught interactions with a parent, typical in many experiences across the world, and the awkwardness of young love and how we feel about ourselves when we are young.
Anonymous
06/12/2026 14:36
Subject: Diary of Anne Frank
English class:
Kid read the beginning of the Diary of Anne Frank and wrote some essays about friendship and parents.
No reading or discussion about WWII or the Holocaust.
What is going on?
Kid read the beginning of the Diary of Anne Frank and wrote some essays about friendship and parents.
No reading or discussion about WWII or the Holocaust.
What is going on?