UCSB Int 94ax, Winter 2000 Prof. Marcuse
Teaching the Holocaust HSSB 4221, 893-2635
HSSB 1211, Wed. 2:00-2:50 marcuse@humanitas.ucsb.edu
http://www.history.ucsb.edu Office hours: Tues. 1-2, Wed. 11-12

TEACHING THE HOLOCAUST BEYOND THE "THIRD GENERATION"
WEEK 2 HANDOUT

DISCUSSION

Last week, I gave you two readings: a journal article about how the schools in Nazi Germany were used to promote an ideological agenda, and a newspaper article arguing why the Holocaust should not be taught in schools today. Here are some questions I have for you about those articles:

  1. What, in you opinion, is the main thesis of each author?
  2. Did you agree with them? (Did they convince you of their position?)
  3. If we "take apart" the arguments, looking for each element, how do they stand up to logical scrutiny? (This is a favorite pasttime of historians!)
  4. How would you apply their arguments to teaching (or: how to teach, or: the goals of teaching) the Holocaust in schools today?

If we have time, I'd like to find out and discuss what YOU think the Holocaust is, and why it should or should not be taught.

FOR NEXT TIME:

In groups of 3-5, I would like you to meet, look through the following materials, discuss them, and prepare a short, informal presentation for next week about:

  1. What is the main emphasis (goal) of the curriculum or course?
  2. What age or interest group is targeted? What preexisting level of knowledge is presumed?
  3. What underlying assumptions about the material and the audience can you find?
  4. How does the author/instructor attempt to reach that goal? (What sources, what steps?)

Here is a list of choices:

  1. Sidney Bolkosky et al, Life Unworthy of Life (Center for Study of the Child, 1987)
  2. Rachel Quenk, The Spirit that Moves Us vol. 1 (grades k-4). (Holocaust Center of Maine, 1994)
  3. Rachel Quenk, The Spirit that Moves Us vol. 2 (grades 5-8). (Holocaust Center of Maine, 1997)
  4. Margot Stern Strom, Facing History and Ourselves (Facing History, 1994)
  5. US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Teaching about the Holocaust: A Resource Guide (1995)
  6. http://marcuse.faculty.history.ucsb.edu/133d/index.html#onlinecourses
    This is a list of links to college courses about the Holocaust, taught in different departments.
    Look at a few of the courses and compare.

I'm handing out a copy from the "History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools" for the 10th grade, to get you started on thinking about such goals.

LIST OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANT NAMES ON BACK!