HMDT Approach to Education
On Holocaust Memorial Day 2012 our focus will be Speak Up, Speak Out. On HMD 2012, we are asking everyone to think about the rights, responsibility and duty we all have to speak up when we see or hear something which we believe to be wrong. It challenges us to learn about what happens when we don’t speak out and what can happen when we do use our voice.
HMD 2012 looks at how we make a choice when to speak up and considers the dangers in both choosing to speak out and not speaking up and asks us all to speak up against injustice and hatred today.
Using the famous Niemoller poem as an inspiration, the theme asks us to speak up today.
HMDT aims to make it as easy as possible to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day in your educational establishment. Make sure you order our free Campaign Pack – this contains free posters, and more information on Holocaust Memorial Day. You can also sign up to our newsletter so that you are the first to hear when we have new resources or workshops available.
Our education website provides you with a wide selection of educational material for all ages, across all subjects and in all stages of education. Whether you choose to spend an hour, an afternoon or a whole day commemorating HMD, our education resources make it easy to find the right material for your students.
Although we know it is not always possible, we encourage you to take young people off timetable on 27 January and allow them to approach HMD through a wide variety of activities.
After hearing about those who have spoken up for what they believe in, some students may appreciate periods of quiet reflection; some may want to debate the issues contained in the narratives and others may wish to discuss how they can safely speak up. HMD is also an ideal opportunity for students to join in events in their local community so they can share what they have learned.
It is up to you, there is no right or wrong way to mark HMD.
Genocide may not be a comfortable subject to tackle but it is essential to recognise that it has taken place. We are not asking you to imagine what life was like under the Nazi regime or during the genocide in Rwanda. We are asking you to look at what happened, to listen to the stories from the past, share them with others and apply their lessons to our lives today. Genocide is a poignant reminder of what can happen when discrimination and hatred is left unchecked.
HMD 2012 is a chance to focus on positive action by reflecting on how we can make sure that we challenge the language of hatred in our playgrounds and classrooms. It serves as a reminder to look to our own behaviour towards others.
We urge you to encourage your students to reflect upon the testimony uncovered as they hear the stories and to keep in mind the words of Martin Luther King Jr. ‘In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.’
We know how precious your time is – so we’ve tried to make it as easy as possible to navigate our site. You can search by case studies, by age range or by subject area. Why not tell your colleagues about our resources and with them, you can hold a cross-curricular day to mark HMD and challenge the language of hatred and Speak Up, Speak Out together?
For primary teachers, resources have been produced to engage younger students with the key messages of HMD in an appropriate way. Please do contact us if you would like further advice on how to use the website.
Tips for commemorating HMD in schools
Keep it appropriate. Be aware of the ages of the students participating. Using HMD resources will assist this.
Stay on message. HMD is not an opportunity to learn everything about the Holocaust and other genocides – it’s a way in which we can reflect on the past and learn lessons which we can apply to our communities today. If you do wish to cover more general Holocaust issues, we recommend that you contact The Holocaust Centre, The Imperial War Museum or the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Never use images for shock value. Whilst the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and genocide are shocking and there is a wealth of photographic and video evidence of the atrocities committed, it is important to remember that you must never dehumanise the victims. Images of corpses and open graves in particular should be avoided. If you feel that a particular image, while shocking, adds to the impact of your event issue a brief warning before using it.
Preparation. Plan ahead and ensure you check our resources are appropriate.
Look forward. HMD isn’t just learning about history. It’s learning from history. We need to ensure that we all have thought about positive action that we can take forward to our shared future after HMD.
Tell us what you plan to do for HMD 2012, even if your activities are closed to the general public. Add your activity to our website
We want to hear from you. You can contact the HMD office on 0845 838 1883 or via email enquiries@hmd.org.uk Members of the HMDT Team are also always happy to assist you with any queries you may have about HMD.
We understand how precious your time is, and we thank you for making the time to commemorate HMD in your school.
Further resources can be accessed from TES Teaching Resources.
