Åsö Gymnasium: Teaching about the Holocaust
During the last three years we have been teaching about the Holocaust in a different way at Åsö gymnasium, which is an Upper Secondary School, in Stockholm. We had the impulse to do this after a visit to the Extermination Camps in Poland. When we saw the unexplainable, we realised that we had to deal with this problem in a new way. This school year we also went with a group of students to Auschwitz. When they returned, the students shared their experiences with the other students.
The students in their final year at our school have been given an opportunity to take part in a project that includes six subjects: History, Swedish, Social Science, Religious Studies, Psychology and Philosophy. For five weeks the students intensively study all the different aspects connected with the Holocaust in many different ways, as reading books written by survivors, listening to survivors telling their story, listening to journalists talking about neo-nazism, visiting exhibitions about the Holocaust and studying ethnic dilemma. During the first four weeks the Holocaust is studied mainly through teacherdirected activities. The fifth and final week the students write an essay on the subjects. They have to reflect upon all the aspects brought up during the previous teaching. We emphasise that the Holocaust is not only an historical problem, but also an ethical, psychological and existential issue. We look upon the Holocaust as not only a unique historical event but also as an event that reflects on general aspects concerning the nature of man.
Knowledge about the Holocaust is an important goal in itself and is something we want every student to be aware of. Historical facts are very important, but we also see Holocaust studies as a means to reach other goals. We want to help our students become more active in reflection during their learning and become more creative when they write. We have noticed that the atmosphere in the classroom changes when we are reflecting upon the Holocaust. The attitude of the students becomes more serious and we are able to achieve considerable depth in the discussions. The subject itself touches deeper feelings within the students, especially when they meet survivors or read survivors' stories. We hope that we have helped the students to develop their personalities and their sense of tolerance and respect for other people. These are our most important goals as teachers.
For further information:
Marie Rydh
Åsö gymnasium
Blekingegatan 55
SE-118 29 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 7027555
email: rydm@aso.edu.stockholm.se
Per Hojeberg
Åsö gymnasium
Blekingegatan 55
SE-118 29 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 7027555
email: hoejp@aso.edu.stockholm.se