Bates College | 08-03-99 INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION PRESENTED

Aug. 3, 1999 Release No. 491 Contact: Phyllis Graber Jensen Phone: (207) 786-6330

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE An international perspective on Holocaust education presented at Bates College LEWISTON, Maine -- Scholars from around the globe are attending a week-long seminar "Teaching the Holocaust: An International Perspective" Sunday through Friday at Bates College. Sponsored by the Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine, the seminar has attracted teachers and scholars from Italy, Poland, Germany, England, Israel and Sweden, as well as from throughout the United States. Holocaust education in Europe is a new and growing phenomenon, according to Steve Hochstadt, professor of history at Bates, who teaches a biennial course about the Holocaust. "Holocaust education is occurring not just in the United States and Israel, where there are many Jews, but also in places like Italy and Poland, where there aren't that many Jews," Hochstadt said. "It's remarkable that this seminar is taking place in Maine," he added. "I don't believe that any similar gathering has occurred anywhere in New England." Sessions with an international focus include presentations given today by teachers and scholars from Poland, Germany and Austria:

"Teaching the Holocaust in Poland during the Period of Political Transformations," Piotr Trojanski, teacher and researcher, Institute of History, Wyzsza Szkola Pedagogiczna w Krakowie, Poland. 8:30 a.m. "Education in Memorial Sites," Alicja Bialecka, senior education officer, education department, Museum and Memorial of Auschwitz-Birkenau, 10:15 a.m. "Holocaust Education in Austria," Georg Mayer and Gabriele Waag, secondary school teachers, Vienna, Austria, 1:30 p.m. "Holocaust Education in Germany," Robert Sigel, secondary school teacher in Dachau, including work at the memorial site of the concentration camp Dachau, 3:15 p.m. "A Question of Knowledge and Responsibility: Educational Programming and Strategies of Holocaust Education in German Secondary Schools," Elisabeth Fenk, teacher, Ingoslstadt, 3:15 p.m. and Thursday from presenters from England and Italy: "Teaching About the Shoah in the British Curriculum," Paula Kitching, Spiro Institute, London, 8:30 a.m.

"Teaching About the Shoah from Memorial Places," Cristine Izzi, Bologna, Italy, 10:45 a.m. To attend a session or interview any of the participants, call Phyllis Graber Jensen at 207-786-6330. Steve Hochstadt can be reached at 207-786-6071.
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