Thank you for getting in touch. Mexico is indeed right around the corner. I've only lived in Bethel for a year, so I'm not too familiar. My wife and I moved here from Portsmouth. We love being here.
Your pictures are amazing. I've been to many of the same places, so I have taken similar shots. My pics happen to have been taken during the frigid Polish winter. Perhaps you've been there during that season as well. It really gave me perspective of how insufferable it must have been to brave that cold with only thin pajamas and wooden shoes.
I look forward to being in touch going forward. I'm teaching a Holocaust class at Bridgton Academy this coming semester. Perhaps I could bounce some ideas off of you some time, if you would be open to that.
Hello, again, Mr. Easter. Thank you for your comments. In answer to your question of whether I am a student, an educator or concerned citizen, I would have to say all three. I feel like a student, although not officially or for any degree, certification or the like. I simply feel that it is important to learn all I can so that I might add to a solution to hatred and violence - and not to the problem. I am an educator - of sorts. One of my three positions is for our local Adult Education program and I am attempting to put together a series of lectures/programs about the Holocaust, open to the public. I am not a degreed teacher, but I would love to take classes eventually on teaching the Holocaust. Mostly, I am an interested citizen. I have always believed that each of us should persue ways to contribute to solutions and I feel driven to do something - anything - to address hatred and prejudice. I have joined the Adopt A Survivor program and have met with a woman who was a hidden child. Together, we plan to tell her interesting story. I love to do research and to write and hope that those interests might help in some small way to offer new knowledge to the public. I hope this answers your questions, Mr. Easter. I guess my position is nearly as complicated as the subject. I am basically just a person who wants to learn more to be able to do more. And since I truly believe that education is the answer to every challenge, I have begun by trying to educate myself first. So far it is a fascinating, heartbreaking, inspirational and challening quest.
Thank you,
Debbie
Thank you for the welcome, Mr. Easter. I have so many questions. My insights basically center around what I am learning through reading personal survivors' memoirs. The will to live of those in the ghettos and in the camps is absolutely amazing to me. I am thankful for every single person that was able to make it through such horrible treatment and conditions. I doubt I would ever be able to summon such determination and courage. I wish I could say I am sorry to every one of them. I am forever grateful to those brave individuals who faced death (or worse) to help save others. And I wonder whether faced with the same possible consequences of helping, would I choose to help or ignore. I pray to God, I would help, but until truly tested, do we really know? I am horrified that this happened on such such a massive scope for so many years. Where was the help? And how could anyone even begin to think they are better than another simply because of religion, race, sex or any other label? And what are we missing now.... Are we all capable of such brutality given certain circumstances? With all of my heart and soul, I hope not. I haven't read any memoirs from anyone admitting to being a Nazi war criminal. Have you? If so, are there regrets, any kind of explanations (and how could there be?), any feelings at all? How could a human being do such things and remain alive without their conscience leading them to self destruction? I have so much to learn....does anyone ever understand this nightmare called the Holocaust? This is certainly a most emotional, heart-wrenching exploration, but one I feel compelled to pursue. Does any of this make sense? Do most people studying the Holocaust have these provocative thoughts and feelings? Why can't we all just get along....why is that so hard? Don't we all just want the same thing: To love, be loved and to live a productive life? I struggle to find any words to adequately and appropriately describe what I am learning, but I feel it is most important to continue to learn what I can for as long as it takes, which feels right now that it will probably be a lifelong quest for understanding. Thanks for your welcome, Mr. Easter, and your ear. I look forward to any and all input. My best, Debbie Daggett.
Thank you. Means a lot for me to belong to this and other memorial sites. Anything to keep others aware of the horrors that happened under the hands of the Nazi's keeps the memories alive. Events were so horrendous that people today can not even grasp it in their head, and already there are those that believe it's fabricated. There is not a day that goes by where I don't find myself trying to imagine even remotely what it had to be like. Although not Jewish I have gained more respect and admiration for the Jewish people from my studies of the Holocaust then I thought could be capable of. I can't find very many times when since the birth of man these poor people haven't had to be on the offensive, always persecuted for
one reason or another.
Images of mothers leading their children to death will always haunt me. Keeping there memories alive is a major priority of mine so that they did not die in vain. Like Simon Wiesenthal said I have never forgotten you.....
thank you for your comment.
If you would like to know something more about the memorial please use our website www.dora.de to have a first impression about the memorial.
Thank you. I´m sorry but I don´t speak and write in english very well.
I read the document and other info in this page (site). It´s a important site for my.
Again, thank you for your message.
Damián
Thanks for the welcome, Ernie. Where do you teach? What did Pierre do when addressing your class? I think survivors really do bring home the reality to students. I find in the UK there is such little relevance and time placed o the Holocaust. I usually have 5 weeks to teach it in - which of course is not enough time. What perspectives do you use when teaching it?
Thank you for your message and welcome, Ernie. I was very glad to discover the Maine Holocaust Education Network. You and other members have created an excellent online resource! I look forward to contributing and sharing some Holocaust education projects in which I’ve been involved.
Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful group. I've already had students send me messages. I'm looking forward to answering them tomorrow.
I taught it for about 17 years and along the way learned about the fantastic course at Bates, took the couse twice and audited parts of it annually from then on. At one point all our 8th grade teams joined me but all dropped it except me saying it was too depressing. I got two other teachers to take the course. I too expanded it every year to include the atrocities in current and prior cultures.It worked in beautifully with mythology, archetypes, and other units that dovetailed nicely. Parents always thanked me, administration was indifferent, and teachers opted for more cheerful subject matter. I grew more dependent on the support from the Holocaust Center and teachers out of state. Joy, retired as well, will probably encourage teachers in Tennessee who are still teaching the same theme to join us. the lasat few years, i came to refer to my own materials as Man's Inhumanity to Man as well. Synchronicity? You have a wealth of information. Mine is all in boxes down cellar now, in old planbooks, and on back up drives. If requested i can probably reply to requests electronically. I have a lot of student presentations in Powerpoint but I refused to let them put all their info on the PPT as I wanted them to present it as an aid, not a substitution for their presentation. They are mostly about African nations...one is even on Sherpas in Tibet. My they found the stuff!
I have been teaching the Holocaust, as part of my unit, Man's Inhumanity to Man, for the past seven or eight years. I am certainly not an expert, but I believe that the course content within the unit makes my students think about the past and the world as it exists today. It continues to amaze me how so many students are ignorant of the genocides that have occurred. It almost seems that school curriculums sugar coat such events, as, in our politically correct world, such things are, at times, minimized or, at least, muted to some degree. I have observed that my students are shocked by what they learn about genocide, and also that they become, to some degree, angered and activated by what I teach them.
I am currently teaching two holocaust and other genocides classes. We are off this week but will have them join next week. Thanks for creating this forum.
You will notice a change on our website. All ads have been removed. This was made possible through actions that Ning, Google, and the educaitonal community undertook on behalf of all educational nings which involve students. From my perspective this is a much appreciated action that they have taken.
Thank you,
Ernie Easter
The Maine Holocaust Education Network was Nominated for an Edublog Award 2008
Maine Holocaust Education Network
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Thank you for getting in touch. Mexico is indeed right around the corner. I've only lived in Bethel for a year, so I'm not too familiar. My wife and I moved here from Portsmouth. We love being here.
Your pictures are amazing. I've been to many of the same places, so I have taken similar shots. My pics happen to have been taken during the frigid Polish winter. Perhaps you've been there during that season as well. It really gave me perspective of how insufferable it must have been to brave that cold with only thin pajamas and wooden shoes.
I look forward to being in touch going forward. I'm teaching a Holocaust class at Bridgton Academy this coming semester. Perhaps I could bounce some ideas off of you some time, if you would be open to that.
Have a great weekend. Be well,
Rich Taylor
Thank you,
Debbie
one reason or another.
Images of mothers leading their children to death will always haunt me. Keeping there memories alive is a major priority of mine so that they did not die in vain. Like Simon Wiesenthal said I have never forgotten you.....thank you for your comment.
If you would like to know something more about the memorial please use our website www.dora.de to have a first impression about the memorial.
With my best regards,
Angela Fiedermann
I read the document and other info in this page (site). It´s a important site for my.
Again, thank you for your message.
Damián
Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful group. I've already had students send me messages. I'm looking forward to answering them tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Pierre
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Thank you,
Ernie Easter
The Maine Holocaust Education Network was Nominated for an Edublog Award 2008
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