Such is the evidently unimaginable scale and horror of the Holocaust
it may seem anomalous to require the modern stardust of Premier League
footballers to make it relevant for children. However, with the events
now almost 70 years in the past, the UK's foremost group connected to
educating people about the genocide is hoping the tactic will raise
awareness among younger people.
In the wake of a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland by members of the England squad before the Euro 2012 finals, the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) has teamed up with the FA to produce a film for schools in which players such as Steven Gerrard and Joe Hart discuss the impact of their visit.
A
DVD will be sent to English secondary schools along with other teaching
materials, as part of a long-term HET programme under which Holocaust
survivors speak to more than 60,000 UK students a year.
The
seven-and-a-half minute film explains the context of the Holocaust
before detailing the appalling events and their impact on Europe's Jews
and other minorities.
England players including the Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart
said they were greatly affected by a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau
death camp during Euro 2012. Photograph: Michael Regan/PA
The stark contrast with footage of tanned, tracksuited footballers is
leavened by the evident impact of the Auschwitz visit on the players.
Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka and the England manager, Roy Hodgson,
join Gerrard and Hart in recounting how they were particularly affected
by meeting survivors of the camp, some of whom also speak in the film.
Karen
Pollock, chief executive of HET, which successfully campaigned to have
compulsory study of the Holocaust added to the national curriculum 20
years ago, said the group was happy to get the assistance of the players
and the FA. "Their support and commitment will enable so many more
young people to engage with the Holocaust and build an educational
legacy for young people in schools across England," she said.
The
chairman of the FA, David Bernstein, who was to visit a school in north
London on Monday, said he was proud of the involvement of Hodgson and
the players. "There are so many lessons to be learnt and understood, and
we believe football can play its part in encouraging society to speak
out against intolerance in all its forms."
Source: guardian.co.uk
0 comMENTS:
Post a Comment