EOP Update

The Educational Outreach Program at Vanderbilt University, sponsored by the Irwin and Elizabeth Limor Foundation and the Tennessee Holocaust Commission, was yesterday. We went early and met with some of the other Fellows and their students where we had Nerf gun fights and played poker for Starburst. :) All in all, it was a great trip. I will admit that I had envisioned us sitting around in a big circle, discussing Holocaust literature and the genocide in Darfur, which did not happen. :) However, the kids were great and we had a lot of fun together.



The Program was so wonderful. The theme was Hidden Messages: Nazi Propaganda and it was such a timely theme with our election coming up. (Not that either of our parties compare to the Nazi's, but you certainly see major propaganda during an election year!) We had three breakout sessions, one with Ann Miller from the USHMM where we analyzed propaganda posters in small groups, one with Paul Fleming from the THC and principal at Humme-Fogg Magnet School where we discussed contemporary genocides and the role that science and "true, proven facts" play in propaganda, and one with Jan Hattleberg who is an art teacher where we created our own advertisements using quotes from Obama, McCain, or Hitler. The hands-on work was very enjoyable.



After lunch, we ended the day by hearing from Frances Cutler. She is a Holocaust survivor who was a hidden child. She was three years old when her mother sent her to an orphanage in Paris to save her life. Her mother was murdered at Auschwitz and her father died as a French resistance fighter. Her story was so moving and she was such a sweet, approachable lady. More of her story can be read on the "Living On" site.



The two day trip was wonderful and I am so glad that we went. Thanks to Josh, Ashley, Adam, Elizabeth, Isaac, and Paulina, for going with me. You guys were great and I was proud to be represented by you! :)

Educational Outreach Program

I just wanted to post (to nowhere and no one, apparently) that I am SO excited to be attending the Educational Outreach Program put on by the Tennessee Holocaust Commission and the Elizabeth Limor Foundation at Vanderbilt University tomorrow! I am equally excited that some of the other Teacher Fellows with me will be attending with their students as well and we are all staying the night together at the mission Jill and her husband run. How cool to have an evening with students from across the state, all passionate about Holocaust education! I will update after Monday's seminar with all of the new and exciting facts I learned and the amazing survivor testimony I am sure to hear. I will also be addressing a new audience by then, as the students who are traveling with me are in Holocaust Literature next semester and will surely be checking this blog after this weekend! :)