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The Lessons We Learn from the Holocaust

Mihaela-Madalina Iordache, Berbesti, Valcea

 

This project was developed by Mihaela-Madalina Iordache in Berbesti, Valcea to teach students tolerance, civic attitudes, the ability to work in a team and respect for diversity through several activities such as a contest of posters, the commemoration of Holocaust, and visits to places with historical significance to the Holocaust.

Students learned about the Holocaust in the history lessons and prepared an event for October 9, the national day of commemorating the Holocaust. Students and teachers who participated in the project prepared interactive educational activities about the Holocaust in Romania and involved other students and teachers from the school.

 

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27) was commemorated through a poster competition. The students who created the most interesting posters were rewarded with the book Ann Frank’s Diary.

 

Another activity of the project consisted of a series of visits of students and teachers involved in the project to places with historical significance to the Holocaust, such as: the synagogue in Pitesti, the Choral Temple in Bucharest, The Holocaust Memorial in Bucharest and Elie Wiesel Square. The administrator of the temple, Mr. Gilbert Shaim, offered us a very interesting and detailed presentation of the Choral Temple, one of the most impressive buildings, not only in Romania, but in the world.

 

The students were impressed by what they saw and found out about the Holocaust. Until this project they knew very little about the Holocaust. Their participation in this project allowed them to learn about historical facts, about people’s lives, about atrocities and to understand that life is one of the fundamental rights of people, that racism, violence, discrimination, intolerance, anti-Semitism are damaging the relationships between people and deeply affect any society.

 

Teacher’s reflection: Only by teaching our students what the Holocaust meant we can help them become more tolerant and change their mentality for a better future.

 

The plan for the future is to cooperate with other teachers from Romania, to develop this project and involve students in this type of activities every year.

 

More details about the project and photos from the activities can be seen at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130003427076721/