The Holocaust: A Best Practices Workshop for Catholic School Educators

What kind of world will future generations inherit? It's up to us to educate the future leaders to not only tolerate others, but accept

others.

The Holocaust

Necessary to teach yet not an easy task... Lessons the Holocaust teach:• Ethics• Tolerance• Acceptance• Courage• Perseverance• Compassion• Man's Will to Live• Forgiveness• Academic - History, Literature, Art

Vocabulary of the Holocaust

• collaborator vs bystander• antisemitism • prejudice vs discrimination• direct orders vs assumed orders• choiceless choice• concentration camp vs killing center• guilt vs responsibility

The HolocaustHow do we go about teaching about the Holocaust?

 Today we'll discuss best practices in teaching the Holocaust in our Catholic School Setting.   First...DEFINE the term and check for prior knowledge Anticipate student questions World Cafe ModelSupplies Necessary:• Large Post Its/Chart Paper• Pens• Time for Discussion (20 minutes)

The Holocaust

A survey found that 20 percent of American high school students could not identify Hitler and name whom the United States fought in World War II (USHMM.org).

It's our job to teach both the easy and difficult concepts. 

Q: How do we go about teaching a complex subject? A: We systematically and clearly explain history to the young people we encounter in our classrooms.

A. We connect with their emotions (age appropriate).

The Holocaust

Teaching Methodology...first consider the following THREE ideas:

1. Define the Holocaust and Antisemitism (Use precise language)

2. Do not imply the Holocaust was inevitable

3. Avoid simple answers to complex questions

 

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum defines the term Holocaust as the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

The Holocaust

Teaching Methodology...next consider the following THREE ideas:

1. Teach from a balanced perspective

2. Avoid comparison of pain3. Do not romanticize history

Passports

Travel was not for business or pleasure.

The HolocaustTeaching Methodology...next consider the following THREE ideas:

1. Contextualize the history2. Translate statistics into people3. Make responsible methodological

choices

How do we TEACH about this HISTORICAL event? We get students to ASK questions.

• Start with background knowledge

• Concentrate on FACTS…get students to form their own conclusions

• Use primary sources to get students to connect with the past

Beyond Theory...Into Action...HOW?

Understand the Holocaust through Student Inquiry

Help Students Connect with the Past

What could we do?• KWL Charts• Think Pair Share• World Cafe Model• Structured Academic Controversy• Artifacts/Photos• Testimony • Create Timelines• Technology based projects

 Translate Statistics into People

 

 The Holocaust is a Historical Event.  Questions to

ask:• What was the

Holocaust?• When did it

occur?• Where did it

occur?

All photos come from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum ushmm.org

One Approach: Teach HistoryUse Images, Artifacts and Stories to help students remember

USHMM Curator's Corner Episode

Q: How do we connect students with the past? A: Teach using tangible resources. 

Primary sources:• Diary• Memoir• Photos• Eye Witness Testimony• Speaker• Documents • Artwork

If you use historical fiction or movies ... • DO point out the fact vs the

fiction to teach students to be critical thinkers.

• If you show a movie, start with a documentary or clip.

Who was involved?

• Who were theo Victims?o Survivors?o Perpetrators?o Bystanders?o Rescuers?o Liberators?

Q: What role did the Catholic Church play in the Holocaust?

The Holocaust Why did it occur? A DIFFICULT question to answer.

• Through our study of the Holocaust we will look at multiple perspectives to better understand history and how the event came to be.

• We will look at CHOICES made by individuals and groups.

• We will learn to make informed decisions about the past.

The Holocaust 

How to determine WHY? Search for FACTS.

• What would be a credible source?

• What would be a primary source?

• The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website (www.ushmm.org)

Power of WORDS

"If ever a piece of writing could produce mass hatred, it is this one. . . . This book is about lies and slander."Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is the most notorious and widely distributed antisemitic publication of modern times

Concepts:• Censorship• Book Burning• Book Banning

 Never Again ...Did Happen 

Troubles Today… 

2010…Genocide is a Problem

• http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/take_action/gallery/portraits

The FUTURE is up to each one of us.After studying the Holocaust and watching testimony about GENOCIDE on our world TODAY, how can you make a difference in the world?

Current Genocide Watch

World is WitnessVideos

At Risk TodayDR CongoSudanBosnia-HerzegoviniaRwandaBurundiChechnya, Russia Ivory Coast

 

Where do we go from here?Take back ideas from today to your classrooms and school sites. Continue to collaborateWork to develop Holocaust Education Teaching Guidelines that looks at scope and sequence so each of us builds upon the work of the previous year's teachers. 

Meet annually for to share best practices and help new teachers  Professional Growth Opportunities:USHMMSHOAH