October 22, 2009
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM TEACHER FORUM LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE QUALITY HOLOCAUST EDUCATION AVAILABLE STATEWIDE
National Museum and Texas Education Agency’s Region 10 Education Service Center to Engage Hundreds of Educators Statewide in Technology-Driven November 5-7 Forum in Richardson, Texas
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency’s Region 10 Education Service Center, is sponsoring “Teaching about the Holocaust,” a three-day educational forum for hundreds of Texas practicing and pre-service educators.
The Forum will equip educators with the knowledge and resources to effectively teach Holocaust history—a required topic in Texas. The 5th Annual Forum held from November 5- 7 at Region 10’s Richardson facility for 200 Dallas-Fort Worth-area educators, will be broadcast live expanding its reach from North Texas to educators statewide in cooperation with Houston-area ESC Region Four and South Texas ESC Region One. Subsequent to the Forum, program segments will be made available as an online professional training resource to thousands of additional educators in these regions.
As part of its program to foster a nationwide corps of committed Holocaust educators who can transmit the history and lessons of the Holocaust to future generations, the Museum’s National Institute for Holocaust Education offers training for teachers of all levels at forums and conferences held around the country and at the Museum in Washington, D.C.
At the North Texas Forum, participants will explore methodologies for effectively introducing students to the complex history of the Holocaust and demonstrate its continuing relevance today. Sessions will include presentations from Museum educators and historians, university professors, and Holocaust survivor Henry Greenbaum. Renowned Holocaust educator Paul Salmons of the University of London’s Institute of Education will present from London via Internet 2 technology.
“Teachers have a tremendous impact on young people, and each forum participant will potentially reach thousands of students in the course of his or her career,” says Stephen Feinberg, special assistant for education programs, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. “In our increasingly diverse societies, these educators can help their students understand the responsibility they have to stand up when they see hatred and injustice—in their own communities or across the globe.”
- Doris Bergen, professor of history at University of Toronto
- Dr. Donald Schwartz, professor of history at California State University, Long Beach
- Dr. William Meinecke, historian at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Peter Fredlake, director of national outreach, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Neal Guthrie, historian at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, will present on the Museum’s global propaganda initiative and how Holocaust history can be a catalyst to greater understanding of what propaganda is, how it works, and the dangerous consequences when it goes unchallenged.
- Holocaust survivor Henry Greenbaum, a native of Poland and a survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau and other concentration camps.
- Alexandra Zapruder, editor of Salvaged Pages: Young Writers Diaries of the Holocaust
- Kathy Chapman, director of education at Dallas Holocaust Museum
- Mary Lee Webeck, director of education at Holocaust Museum Houston
- Two members of the Museum’s Regional Education Corps, a national group of highly trained educators who bring Holocaust education to their communities— Cathleen Cadigan and Jennifer McConnell and two Museum Teacher Fellows—Meghan McNeeley and Kathleen English. English will present by video conference from Washington D.C. on the Museum’s use of the Holocaust as a powerful platform to confront contemporary genocide. Cadigan was recently recognized as one of eight outstanding teachers nationwide by the College Board and Phi Delta Kappa.
A complete conference schedule is available. Please contact Jackie Berkowitz in the Museum’s Media Relations Department at 202-488-2637 or jberkowitz@ushmm.org if you would like to attend any part of the forum or speak with organizers or participants.
In addition to holding forums around the country, each summer, the Museum hosts the three-day Belfer Conference for Holocaust Educators, and the Museum Teacher Fellowship program, an intensive, five-day workshop for educators with at least five years of experience teaching Holocaust studies. The Museum also hosts one-day teacher training workshops across the country throughout the year.
More information on the Museum’s teacher training programs and offerings for educators can be found at www.ushmm.org/education.
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders to confront hatred, promote human dignity and prevent genocide. Its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by the generosity of donors nationwide through legacy and annual giving. For more information visit www.ushmm.org.
