Learning from the past ~ lessons for today - Holocaust Education ...

Holocaust Memorial Day 2009
Responses to teachers’ education programmes
The Holocaust Educational Trust of Ireland runs two programmes specifically for teachers. Learning from the Holocaust is a five-day
programme that includes a 3-day study visit to Krakow and Auschwitz-Birkenau supported by two separate seminar days before
and after the visit. The programme is designed to give teachers an understanding of the Holocaust and the history of the Jews of
Europe up to the Second World War. It provides participants with the skills to address Holocaust awareness with their students.
Teaching the Holocaust is an intensive Summer course for teachers that provides in-depth information about the Holocaust
and how to teach the complex subject in the classroom. It addresses cross-curricular approaches and considers where
Holocaust Studies have relevance for our students today.
…Well, I am back in my office on this lovely Monday
morning, basking in the warm afterglow of a
successful trip to beautiful Ireland. I cannot tell you
how much I appreciated all your efforts to make the
teacher training program such a resounding success.
You have a seemingly endless reservoir of energy and
all your work is so thorough and clear. It was a true
pleasure to work with you on the program and I hope
that we continue to work together to create additional
programs for Irish educators. Any help I can offer will
be happily and freely given.
Stephen Feinberg, Director,
National Outreach for Teacher Initiatives
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
…I would like to thank you for affording me the
opportunity to take part in the HETI study visit to
Krakow and Auschwitz. I felt privileged to be able to
do so in the context that we did. Thus for me, it had
appropriate reverence and solemnity and it even had
the aspect of pilgrimage and all this I welcomed. I
was reticent and reluctant over the years to journey
to Auschwitz as I feared it had the aspect of being a
‘tourist destination’ and this would insult all the
victims. Once again, many thanks for the experience
as HETI provided it.
GH Newtown School
…I have been Holocaust obsessed since the course and
have spent a fortune on Amazon buying texts and
DVDs. I found out last week that I have all of
Transition Year in Belvedere this year so I am going to
do a course on genocide focusing particularly on the
Holocaust. Will be in touch regarding memorial day.
…Once again, I want to thank you for all the
enormous work you obviously put in to organising the
course this summer. You have made an extraordinary
difference to the level of awareness the people of this
country have on the Holocaust because now you have
32 people to bring the message out to the wider
community. You should be very proud of yourself for
the justice you have done to the memory of the victims.
Poland was a pivotal experience in my life. Spending
two days in the Kazimierz district, meeting the Righteous,
and finally Auschwitz-Birkenau, made an indelible
impression that I will reflect on for the rest of my life.
…Thank you so much for the experience of teaching
the Holocaust. It was a hugely beneficial and
challenging experience and so worthwhile. It really
opened my eyes and taught me so much. I feel truly
privileged to have participated in the course. Thank
you for such a positive learning experience.
“Having attended in-service training over the years,
I have never experienced anything that comes close
to the standard of excellence I have experienced
on this programme.”
“Best course I have ever experienced.”
“Great course, very interesting
and excellent presenters and lecturers.”
“Surpassed my expectations, absolutely brilliant.”
“The course was hugely informative and very intense.
I’m delighted to have been here and to have received
so much knowledge to think about.”
“Thought provoking, cannot say enough about it.
Makes me want to learn and teach more on the topic.
Really excellent.”
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