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DEADLINES APPROACHING FOR THE TEXAS YOM
HASHOAH STATEWIDE ART, WRITING & VIDEO CONTEST!
The Texas Coalition for
Holocaust Education sponsors an annual statewide art, writing and video
contest to mark Holocaust Commemoration Day, or Yom Hashoah in
remembrance of the 6 million Jewish victims and the millions of other
innocents who suffered unjustly.
The 2010
theme is "Upstanders of the Holocaust." While 6 million Jews and
millions of others were systematically and brutally murdered during the
Holocaust, far too many people stood by and did nothing and far too few
people stood up and acted in defiance.
The writing portion
(sent to the El Paso Holocaust Museum) and video (sent to Holocaust Museum
Houston) portion of this contest both require a postmark deadline by
Thursday, March 11. The art portion of the contest must be received
by the Dallas Holocaust Museum by March 25.
Information about the contest can be found on the Museum’s Web
site at http://www.hmh.org/ed_contests.shtml.
PLAN
TO ATTEND THE CITYWIDE YOM HASHOAH COMMEMORATION
SERVICE
Join Holocaust Museum Houston for
Houston’s annual Yom HaShoah commemorative service in memory of
all who died in the Holocaust and to pay tribute to those who
survived.
This year's service begins at 3
p.m. on Sunday, April 11, at Congregation
Beth Yeshurun, 4525 Beechnut. The
service is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is
not required.
APPLY NOW FOR THE MAX M. KAPLAN SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR
EDUCATORS
The Max M. Kaplan Summer Institute
for Educators at Holocaust Museum Houston is a four-day program that moves
beyond the general history of the Holocaust to explore the various
dimensions and implications of the Holocaust and other genocides. The
institute, scheduled for July 6 – 9, 2010, provides substantive
content and the opportunity to network with internationally known scholars
of the Holocaust and teachers from around the world.
Working in the Museum’s exhibit
space and classrooms, teachers grow in their understanding of the
Holocaust and refine their skills to teach about the history and lessons
of the Holocaust.
The program is directed toward
educators on a secondary or higher level, but university students and
educators of all levels who have a specific interest in, and background
knowledge of, the Holocaust are invited to apply. Seating is limited and
is on a competitive basis. The cost to attend the program is $150, which
includes lunch and materials for the four days.
The application to the program is
available at the Museum’s Web site at www.hmh.org/ed_kaplan.shtml. For more information about the program,
e-mail teachertraining@hmh.org or call 713-942-8000,
ext. 123.
This educator training project has
been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material
Claims Against Germany, Inc.; and is generously underwritten by
the Max M. Kaplan Teacher Education Fund and the Chevra Kadisha Holocaust
Studies Scholarship Fund, with special thanks to Continental
Airlines, the official airline of Holocaust Museum Houston.
DESIGN LESSON
PLANS FOR GENOCIDE PREVENTION MONTH
Several genocides
began in the month of April, which is why April is important month to
select for teaching about genocide. Holocaust Museum Houston has
one-page background sheets with information about genocides during the
20th and 21st centuries under the Web site’s "Resources" tab. The Museum
also has a curriculum trunk that consists of materials for teaching about
genocide. Materials include class sets of two texts, audiovisual materials
and an educator’s guide to teaching about genocide.
Teachers forming
units of study about genocide should visit The Enough Project’s Web
site at www.enoughproject.org to gain
updated understandings about benchmarks for the U.S. government to reach
in its dealings with Sudan (notably focusing on the Darfur genocide) and
the Conflict Minerals Bill before Congress (relating to the war in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo). Both the benchmarks and the
legislation are important for educators to teach about to encourage action
on the issue.
TRACY KIDDER OFFERS “STRENGTH IN WHAT
REMAINS”
 Tracy Kidder, a master of the non-fiction narrative,
won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for his book, “Soul of
a New Machine.” Kidder combines award-winning reportorial skill with what
one New York Times Book Review critic describes as “the author’s
genuine love, delight and celebration of the human condition.” Kidder’s
newest book, “Strength in What Remains,” has been described as a book
which will “resurrect your faith in the human spirit.” It follows the
story of Deogratias, a refugee from the civil war and genocide of 1990s
Burundi, who makes his way to New York City. “Deo’s story,” says Alex
Kotlowitz, “is remarkable, stunning really. His journey is the story of
our times, one that keeps the rest of us from forgetting.”
Kidder will
discuss the book in a public lecture Monday, March 22, beginning at 7:30
p.m. at the Hubbard Stage, Alley Theatre, 615 Texas
Ave. The lecture is part of the Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading
Series sponsored by Inprint and presented in conjunction with Holocaust
Museum Houston. General admission is $5, and free for students and senior
citizens. For more information, visit www.inprinthouston.org.
WEB RESOURCE
OF THE MONTH
When Adam Jones presented a
workshop to teachers at Holocaust Museum Houston this past February, he
introduced participants to the companion site to his significant
textbook. At the site, www.genocidetext.net, teachers can pull up excerpts to some of the
chapters, learn about songs with genocide themes and view an excellent
filmography listing.
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