A question for parents:

[DesertPirate]

If you know about an atrocity, yet do nothing to stop it, what does that make YOU?

Just as guilty!

 

[DesertPirate]

I've read the bible. Fortunately the information went into my brain and not yours. I'm grateful for that, because that means the conclusions have some connection to reality.

Please don't quote the slime, it screws up ignore!

 

[CharleyH]

Charley, much as you consider yourself an authority and someone who should be feared, unfortunately this has the effect of making me giggle and wanting to say "Oh yeah? OH YEAH?" in the same sort of futile attempt to exert authority in an inherently chaotic and anarchistic system.

Put me on ignore if you don't want to hear me.

Recidiva. I am not sure where you get this idea of me. ROFLOL. It's a ludicrous idea and one I have never aspired to. PS: I guess you have a mentality like in grade 4.

 

[Recidiva]

Please don't quote the slime, it screws up ignore!

Then ignore me

 

[Recidiva]

Recidiva. I am not sure where you get this idea of me. ROFLOL. It's a ludicrous idea and one I have never aspired to. PS: I guess you have a mentality like in grade 4.

Well...that's mature. I have no idea where I got the idea that you feel you can censor other people's interactions.

 

[CharleyH]

Well...that's mature. I have no idea where I got the idea that you feel you can censor other people's interactions.

Baby? (and I mean that literally) You are off point and not answering the initial question in this thread.

 

[Recidiva]

Baby? (and I mean that literally) You are off point and not answering the initial question in this thread.

And neither are you. Maybe you could chew on that bit.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

ABS will likely create a shit storm with this topic.

 

[CharleyH]

And neither are you. Maybe you could chew on that bit.

Love? I answered it. You did not.

 

[CharleyH]

And neither are you. Maybe you could chew on that bit.

God, you are such an idiot my friend.

ABS: Interesting question. What do you propose?

 

[Recidiva]

Love? I answered it. You did not.

I answer individual posts as I see fit. I tell you to fuck off when you try to get me to stop doing so.

So fuck off.

 

[Recidiva]

God, you are such an idiot my friend.

Great! Please put me on ignore and consider me a lost cause. It'd be ever so nice.

 

[CharleyH]

Again, Abs. What do you propose?

 

[fifty5]

I'll start by saying I don't know about teaching 4th graders, so this might all be utter junk.

A couple of folk mentioned "and it's still happening." Can you turn that upside down and start with an example of prejudice that's within within their knowledge and lead them to say it's bad, then agree and give the holocaust as a case - like the one they know - that got right out of hand?

Change:
The holocaust was bad - and if we aren't careful, it could happen again
to:
This is bad now and if we don't do something about this it could get unbelievably worse - the holocaust shows just how bad it can get.

My experience in teaching is that the big hurdle most of the time is letting learners know why they are learning something. Once they understand why they need to know, they listen and learn.

My fear is that once kids understand there's a problem, they often want to do something about it. I think you need something ready for them to do, but I don't know what, because what the holocaust teaches really, is that it is necessary to fight evil - and if they do learn that, what they'll want to do is to fight the present prejudice. Helping survivors is good, but too little, too late. Perhaps they can fight bullying?

Like I said, I don't really know.

 

[starrkers]

Don't know exactly what age group we're talking here, so this could be completely useless.

There is a book called Hana's Suitcase that may be of some value. It tells a true story. A class of Japanese school students trace the origins of a suitcase they are sent as part of a Holocaust study. My daughter had the book specially ordered in when she was 13.
There's an excerpt here

 

[MagicaPractica]

Erika’s Story - Ruth Vander Zee
An unusual and arresting picture book which tells the story of how a baby is thrown from a train bound for the death camps by a mother determined to give her baby the chance of life.

This is a great picture book. A teacher I knew started out by posting the question "Would it ever be okay to throw a baby from a train?" for the kids to think and talk about as they came into the classroom. Then she read the book to them.

 

[DesertPirate]

Erika’s Story - Ruth Vander Zee
An unusual and arresting picture book which tells the story of how a baby is thrown from a train bound for the death camps by a mother determined to give her baby the chance of life.

This is a great picture book. A teacher I knew started out by posting the question "Would it ever be okay to throw a baby from a train?" for the kids to think and talk about as they came into the classroom. Then she read the book to them.

Wow that is an intense lead in.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Thank you everyone for your help and responses.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Again, Abs. What do you propose?

Teaching as much as I can. Empowering them with knowledge.

 

[Stella_Omega]

This is fine, but do NOT under any circumstances do the "psychological" experiment that was done with real kids in an elementary school where the teacher actually favored the blue-eyed blondes for a day, giving them special favors, and cut out the dark-haired ones, treating them as outcasts, all without explanation until the "reveal" (hahaha! You all acted like Nazis!).

The teacher that did that, breaking up friendships and such, may have made her point (or not) but was also fired, and rightly so. It's never a good idea to play psychological games on kids. Fuck with them like that and all they learn is to stop trusting their teachers.

Yes, I walked -- ran -- out of my class when the teacher brought that idea up. "hey, everybody, let's try acting it out!"

"My grandparents were refugees, so I'll be one too. I'm outta here."

I did not have the words to explain myself, back then, and I ended up in the vice principal's office, having a panic attack. I came back to school the next day to find the class had not 'acted it out' after all, but I never understood that I was one of the reasons why it seemed like a bad idea after all. And I never knew that I hadn't gotten in trouble for it. And I never trusted teachers, counsellors, or school staff.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Yes, I walked -- ran -- out of my class when the teacher brought that idea up. "hey, everybody, let's try acting it out!"

"My grandparents were refugees, so I'll be one too. I'm outta here."

I did not have the words to explain myself, back then, and I ended up in the vice principal's office, having a panic attack. I came back to school the next day to find the class had not 'acted it out' after all, but I never understood that I was one of the reasons why it seemed like a bad idea after all. And I never knew that I hadn't gotten in trouble for it. And I never trusted teachers, counsellors, or school staff.

*hugs*

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Thanks again everyone.

I watched "Paperclips".....wow, what a great movie. It was amazing.

I've gathered so much information and so far, in the begining stages, we seem to be doing well.
Her teacher and I will have the summer to work on things and we are very excited! Other parents I spoke to see interested in the project as well.

I'll keep you updated and feel free to pass on anything else!

 

[Recidiva]

Thanks again everyone.

I watched "Paperclips".....wow, what a great movie. It was amazing.

I've gathered so much information and so far, in the begining stages, we seem to be doing well.
Her teacher and I will have the summer to work on things and we are very excited! Other parents I spoke to see interested in the project as well.

I'll keep you updated and feel free to pass on anything else!

YAAAY! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

Good luck on your project, and please do keep me posted