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Key Issues Raised:

• Gun Violence and Youth Trauma: What are the effects of gun violence on young survivors, and how does it shape their identities? How does exposure to such violence influence personal and collective perspectives on safety and justice?
• Restorative Justice: How can restorative justice address the needs of victims while also holding perpetrators accountable? What are the challenges and potential benefits of confronting an attacker in a legal or personal setting?
• Collective Hate and Prejudice: How does hate manifest on both individual and societal levels, and how can it be confronted and dismantled? What role does education, such as Holocaust Studies, play in understanding and combating hate?
• Youth Resilience and Empowerment: In what ways can young people reclaim their power after traumatic experiences? How do personal and societal narratives of resilience shape the healing process?
• Role of Poetry and Art in Healing: How can creative expression serve as a tool for processing trauma and reclaiming agency? What unique perspectives do survivors bring to discussions of justice and recovery through their art?

Curriculum Connections:

Social Studies/Civics:

• Gun Violence and Policy: Students can explore the role of gun control policies, their impact on society, and the debate surrounding Second Amendment rights.
• Justice and Legal Systems: The film’s focus on a sentencing trial provides a lens to discuss criminal justice, the death penalty, and restorative versus punitive approaches to justice.

Literature/Creative Writing:

• Survivor Narratives: The inclusion of Sam’s poetry invites analysis of survivor voices and the use of literature as a medium for healing. Students can study how poetry reflects personal trauma and resilience.
• Themes and Character Development: Students can examine the film’s portrayal of trauma and resilience, exploring how individuals reclaim their stories after violence.

History/ Holocaust Studies:

• Hate and Prejudice: With the film set in a Holocaust Studies classroom, it offers a basis for examining historical events that illustrate the dangers of collective hate and prejudice.
• Comparative Historical Analysis: Students can connect the themes of collective hate in the film to historical events, discussing the societal impacts of intolerance and the importance of historical awareness.

Ethics/Philosophy:

• Moral Dilemmas in Justice: The film raises questions about justice, forgiveness, and the ethical considerations of restorative justice. Students can debate the merits and challenges of restorative versus retributive justice.
• Empathy and Trauma: Discussions can explore the ethical importance of empathy in addressing trauma, especially in youth, and the societal responsibility toward survivors of violence.

Psychology/Sociology:

• Impact of Trauma on Youth: The film provides an opportunity to study the psychological effects of trauma, resilience factors, and the role of social support systems.
• Collective Trauma and Society: Students can analyze how society collectively responds to traumatic events and the impact on communities, especially schools.