ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — It's a destination for discovery.
The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum is a spot for students to be a sponge and soak up history.
Helen Turner is the director of education at the museum. She said they have been working with multiple schools in the area.
Turner believes sixth grade is a good start as a gateway to get into a dialogue and the conversations level up as they get older. The museum and its programs are meant to empower and educate.
"It's something that they can see as the choices of human beings and where hate can lead if we don't speak up and speak out, we can see where those thoughts take us," Turner said.
Some of the hateful language still surrounds us. The Anti-Defamation League says that U.S. antisemitic incidents have hit the highest level since ADL started keeping records in 1979.
"It's so easy to share misinformation," Turner said.
Just this week, a Ladue High School parent shared Snapchat photos with 5 On Your Side circulating among students as the latest war ravages in the Middle East.
One post said 'Israel are the new Nazis' and another shared this:
"I stand with Israel" = "I stand with the KKK" and "I stand with Hitler".
5 On Your Side was told some parents didn't want to go on camera fearing backlash.
A Ladue School District spokesperson said the posts were from last year and have resurfaced. They said they addressed the problem and have provided material to teachers to have conversations with students.
The spokesperson said prior to the latest war, it had already scheduled a Holocaust survivor to speak to students next week.
"You can't control what's shared with you, but you can control what you share," Turner added.
Sharing an educational message is the museum's motive.
"There's weight to our words," Turner said.
Some words can weigh heavy and that's why Dr. Bart Andrews with Behavioral Health Response reminds parents, they are also teachers.
Andrews shared, "What kids do is they are looking at the environment around them and looking at signals of people they trust, that's why us as adults, as leaders, that we should be careful. Teenagers aren't really good at recognizing nuance, their frontal lobes haven't developed enough, so it's incumbent for us to model appropriate support and appropriate political conversations."
Andrews also notes the power of social media.
He acknowledged how quickly social media posts can circulate and the permanency of it.
"Beware of putting things on social media, it can be there forever," Andrews said. "If you’re upset about something and thinking of posting, my rule is wait five minutes and give yourself time to calm down and then decide to post that or not."
Beyond pupils, Turner believes everyone can learn from the museum's lessons.
"To be cautious and careful with what you say and to lead with kindness before you lead with anything else," she added.
For more information on the Holocaust's school group tours, click here.
Andrews shared that if anyone is feeling stressed or facing intrusive threats, to call or text 988.
If you need to report an antisemitic incident, click here for the Anti-Defamation League's link.