Heritage

78 heritage for peace and reconciliation | manual for teacherContentstlTeaching limitationSchools are often involved in commemorative events. Some of these events are onthe school’s own initiative, while others are held at the request of a municipality orlocal government. We consider the preparation for, participation in and processing ofthese events as an enlightening activity, bringing students into contact with aspects ofthe First World War. Moreover, through active participation, students can encountercustoms and rituals concerning the remembrance.It could also be helpful, however, to view commemoration from a critical distance. Inmany cases, the philosophy of commemoration differs from one country to another.Differences may even exist within the same region, depending upon the organizingbody. The following questions should be addressed when including commemorationin a teaching project: Who is commemorating? What is being commemorated?Why is this being commemorated? Are there underlying motives that might not beevident at first sight? What is the message that this commemoration is intended toconvey?Lone Tree Cemetery, Belgium © Westtoertt Teaching tipThe teacher is responsible for working with the students to prepare for a commemoration.For example, they can assist in the search for the meaning of concepts suchas ‘war commemorations’, ‘never forgetting’, ‘remembrance’, the ‘commemoration ofinternalized experiences’ or the call for heritage protection. The First World War iscommemorated in different ways in different traditions. They bear different messages