The Centre for Global Migrations was delighted to recently co-sponsor a Teacher Professional Development day on teaching the Holocaust in schools.
Kris Clancy, Education Director at the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand, began with a discussion of what, why, and how to teach the Holocaust. He emphasised that although often taught as an overseas event, the Holocaust is also a local story about who came to Aotearoa. Connecting the Holocaust to human rights and what constitutes free speech versus hate speech, Kris encouraged teachers to ensure students learn the repercussions of inaction. He also stressed the importance of using individual stories and images purposely and to avoid role plays. Encouraging an interdisciplinary approach, teachers then worked through a survivor’s personal testimony and workshopped some lesson plans. Kris concluded the informative day with an overview of past and present antisemitism in New Zealand.
