November 27th 2000

 

Holocaust education program circulating among Colorado schools

DENVER (AP) -- It is imperative to educate teenagers about the horrors of the Holocaust, but improper education can be as dangerous at none at all, according to officials of a new program circulating among Colorado schools.

Five trunks filled with books, computer materials, posters, videos, maps, novels and teaching guides have begun the rounds of schools in a program sponsored by the University of Denver's Holocaust Awareness Institute. The goal is to arm teachers with materials to explain the critical lessons of the Holocaust and World War II, said institute educator Susan Shear.

"To do it well, you need all the help you can get," she said.

But she said teaching about the Holocaust inappropriately can be harmful to students.

Shear recalled a teacher who simulated a death camp in her classroom, with students wearing "I'm a Jew, kick me" signs that she said trivialized the Holocaust. Sometimes, she said, students are exposed too early to graphic material that overwhelms students or simply titillates them.

Others are rushed through dates and maps without a chance to ponder the lessons or modern-day parallels to the Nazis' systematic annihilation of millions of Jews and other minorities.

During a recent educational session at Adams City High School, Holocaust survivor Jack Adler spoke of losing his entire family and about being liberated from a German concentration camp at age 16 and weighing about 60 pounds. He also spoke of forgiveness.

"He was the first Holocaust speaker I've ever heard, and I think I understood," said 16-year-old Stephanie Krause. "I've watched movies about it, but you just feel sad, or like you want to hurt someone. What do you do with those feelings?"

Shear said the Colorado program follows the lead of similar, successful programs in Houston and Kansas City. She said Colorado does not mandate Holocaust education as do California, Florida, Illinois, New York and New Jersey. The state also does not have legislation recommending Holocaust teaching as do at least 10 other states.

"I've shown a documentary, a very intense video with intense footage," said Kassie Moreci, a world history teacher at Littleton's Options high school. "I'm not sure they were prepared for its graphic nature. There were tears, and I'm not sure I'd show it again. I don't want to desensitize them."

Teachers can sign up to have one of the trunks for three weeks when it fits their lesson plan.

"The material in here is unbelievable," said Adams City High School history teacher Larry Grohn. "I'd recommend it to anyone. You could probably teach an entire class on it using this stuff."

Institute officials said the trunk materials were carefully selected for their effectiveness, age-appropriateness, emotional impact, accuracy and application for different teaching and learning styles.

"I've been using the personal accounts from survivors," Grohn said. "My students are really sharp, but they are vague on how we got where we are. They need to know why their grandpas and grandmas think and act they way they do."

Shear said each of the five trunks will reach about 1,000 teen-agers a year. She said it took a year of fund-raising to gather the materials, and the institute hopes eventually to have at least one trunk available for every public and private school in Colorado.