As if I didn't have enough problems, the hard drive in my laptop decided to commit suicide this week. While I can still use my desktop computer, I now have to compete with my 14-going on 21-year-old daughter for access. I'm not sure when exactly my desktop became hers (it was supposed to be the family computer once I got the laptop), but I suppose the saying is true - hell hath no fury like a teenager scorned (or something like that).

A number of years ago - I believe it was either the late 70's or early 80's - there was a lot of buzz about a book, and subsequent movie, called "The Wave". The book was a about an experiment done in a school to teach children about how atrocities - such as the Holocaust, for example - can happen.

In the book, the teacher - through various techniques - created tensions that led to isolationism and torment to those unfortunate enough to be labeled inferior.

When the experiment took place (I believe in the 60's), it was criticized by parents and faculty alike, but years later, when the book came out, the lessons learned were very powerful.

One would think that after all these years since, doing a similar experiment would not have as bad a reaction. After all, the book was largely lauded as a success in teaching about human nature and the root causes of genocide.

In the 21st century, as most of the survivors of the Holocaust have passed on, the lessons taught in the experiment ought to be embraced and strengthened. Not just for the sake of the Jewish people, but for all mankind. What happened in Germany has happened in other places as well since (albeit in fewer numbers).

That's why I'm upset today about a story from Florida. In the town of Apopka, an 8th-grade teacher used a similar experiment with his class by separating his class into two different groups. All of those who's last names began with the letters L-Z were given yellow five-pointed stars to wear, while the other students were considered "privileged".

However, many parents were upset. They told the school (and the newspapers) that they felt that it was demeaning and unnecessary. Surprisingly, the school stood behind the experiment. Some of the parents felt that the children should have been told beforehand what to expect, but the principal, Douglas Guthrie, disagreed.

I applaud Principal Guthrie and I admonish the parents who complained. Guthrie is correct in feeling that alerting the students prior would take away the "shock" value, and therefore make the whole project worthless.

The parents should be ashamed of themselves for being soft when it comes to teaching one of the most important lesson that can be taught.

In order to fully understand what happened during "uncomfortable" times, you must make the student somewhat uncomfortable. Otherwise, the student is just memorizing meaningless dates. One day, very soon, there will be no one alive who lived during the worst genocide in history. When that happens, are we to rely on those who've only learned when it happened?

Or those who understood HOW it happened?