果冻影院

One blog, by Corey Soper and Nic Wetherall, explores the #Leon110 programme. This programme commemorates the 110th anniversary of Holocaust survivor and anti-fascism campaigner Leon Greenman鈥檚 birth and gives schools and their communities the opportunity to reflect on Leon鈥檚 life, his legacy and his tireless work in Holocaust education and anti-fascist activism.

As part of the work, the pupils completed an unfinished poem of Leon鈥檚, and were asked to give the poem a title and to finish it with a final stanza either as Leon, or in the form of the student鈥檚 personal and direct response to his doubt.

Programme Director, Ruth-Anne Lenga, said: 鈥淢oving, insightful, inspirational, powerful, compassionate 鈥� these are key words that describe the many poetic entries from students across the country who responded to 果冻影院鈥檚 #Leon110 poetry challenge. Staff here at the Centre marvelled at the poet鈥檚 level of understanding of Leon鈥檚 trauma and his determination to live his survival fully in the fight against racism and hate. Thank you from the Centre and from me personally, a close friend and confidante of Leon. I know how deeply heartened he would have been by the young poets鈥� ability to understand something of his struggle.鈥�

The Centre for Holocaust Education has also published a blog by Dr Rebecca Hale, reflecting on the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2021 and research from the Centre. This particular study found that for many of the participating students, it was the first time they had learned about the Holocaust and confronting such darkness elicited responses of disbelief that such a thing could happen and that humans were capable of committing such atrocities. Students struggled to grasp the scale of the Holocaust; in particular, the number of people who were murdered. They also recognised the long-term impact of this devastating event on the survivors.

In her blog, Dr Hale concludes: 鈥淏e the light in the darkness is a powerful theme which forces us to confront the dark reality that genocide continues to happen. 聽Genocide is built upon processes that have not been consigned to the history books, but are very much in the present, worryingly gaining traction in the current climate of fake news. As the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust highlight: 鈥楢s the world deals with the unprecedented challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, dangerous myths and hate-filled conspiracy theories are blaming and demonising people because of their identity. Spreading quickly on social media, it is crucial that we work together and speak out with the truth whenever we encounter lies and fake news鈥�.

鈥淲e need to equip young people with the knowledge, proficiency and confidence to be the light in the darkness. Fortunately, we have incredible teachers who are committed to delivering high quality Holocaust education.

鈥淎s a Centre that has had the privilege of working with thousands of teachers for over a decade, we know that they are committed to supporting their students to grapple with the complexities, challenges and nuance that are inherent in any study of the Holocaust and other genocides. Thus, teachers not only empower their students to be the light in the darkness, they too are lights in the darkness.鈥�

Links

• 鈥楾hey were just following orders鈥�
• Centre for Holocaust Education
• Department of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment

Image

• 'Candle' by聽Shawn Carpenter ()