News
European Seminar
“Teaching about the Holocaust: Integration of Site Visits in the pedagogical work” – is the title of this years seminar for educators and teachers from countries belonging to the Council of Europe, signatories to the European Cultural Convention, which had its place in Kraków and Oświęcim on October 8-14, 2011.
In the sixth seminar organized under the “Pestalozzi Training Progamme for Education Professionals” by the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust, in cooperation with Center for Education Development, the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Poland, as well as the Pedagogical University in Kraków, twenty-five educators took part from, among others, France, Austria, Chechnya, Romania, Spain, Malta, Italy, Portugal, Finland, and Poland.
The first two days, were spent by the participants in Kraków, where they had the opportunity to tour Old Town, the district of Kazimierz and Schindler’s Factory, but above all, they took part in a series of lectures, which were mainly dedicated to Holocaust Memorial Day, the perspective of Holocaust education in Poland, and the educational work conducted by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. These educational sessions were conducted by educational professionals from the Pedagogical University, educators from the YadVashem Institute in Jerusalem, as well as staff of the Center for Educational Development in Warsaw and the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust.
Next, during a several day visit to Oświęcim, the participants visited the site of the former Concentration Camp as well as took part in lectures and workshops about its history that was prepared, then presented by the historians and other staff of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum.
Moreover, the participants met a former prisoner of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, JuliuszZon, alsovisited the International Youth Meeting Center, the Synagogue and Jewish Center in Oswicim, and toured the exhibition in HarmężeKotwicacreated by Marian Kołodziej, former Auschwitz prisoner, entitled Memory’s Images: Labyrinth.
The main goal of this year’s seminar was, above all, to properly prepare the participants for work as well as completing visits with young people to the Auschwitz Museum and other Memorial Sites. That is why the program included practical workshop activities, which were presented by the authors of the “European pack for visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. Guidelines for teachers and educators.”
“European pack for visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum” — is an English language publication for teachers and educators, who are planning a visit for young people to the Auschwitz Memorial Site. The publication is the result of several years of work between the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, the Council of Europe, and the National Ministry of Education of the Republic of Poland. This book contains, among other things, practical information about visiting the Memorial Site, Historical materials and texts, lesson plans, as well as an array of information about the contemporary meaning of Auschwitz. Currently, work is progressing on a Polish language translation of the book and due to the fact that there is a high demand for this book, it will most probably be translated into other languages as well.
European Workshops
The council of Europe Seminar being conducted under the obligation undertaken by the Polish Minister of Education, Miroslaw Sawicki, during the European Seminar of Ministers of Education of the European Council that took place May 4-6, 2005. The subject matteras well as program deals with teaching memory in context of Holocaust Remembrance Day and in the fightto end crimes against humanity. Organizers of the seminar include: The Polish Ministry of Education, The International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust, and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, together with the Pedagogical University in Kraków.
