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| You are here: 2000 / Workshops, Panels and Seminars / Workshops on Education / Workshop 2 on Education, "Teaching in the Contemporary Context" / Presentation by Mrs. Myra Osrin | |||||||||
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Report from Workshop 2 on Education: "Teaching in the contemporary context" Presentation by Dr. Ilya Altman Presentation by Professor Dan Bar-On presentation by Mr. Stephen Feinberg Presentation by Mrs. Myra Osrin Presentation by Dr. Carol Rittner Presentation by Mrs. Myra Osrin Osrin, Myra Presentation by Mrs. Myra Osrin, Director Cape Town Memorial Centre The Cape Town Holocaust Centre opened in August 1999. It is the first of its kind in South Africa and the only such centre in Africa. The project was established and funded by members of the small Cape Town Jewish community (18 000 souls). The Centre, only 400 square metres in size, includes an impactful permanent exhibition modelled on the exhibition created by Beth Shalom Holocaust Memorial Centre in England whose founder, Stephen Smith, serves as honorary consultant. The Centre serves as a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is also an educational centre which, by examining the moral, ethical and historical dimensions of the Holocaust, aims to instill a spirit of tolerance and a determination to combat all forms of racism and prejudice. These aims are not significantly different to those of the many other Holocaust centres. However, the nature of the South African society is, in many respects, very different. Until recently the vast majority of South Africans had themselves been victims of horrendous racial discrimination and dreadful human rights abuses of the apartheid system. Although the ‘new’ South Africa can be proud of its exemplary constitution and its Truth and Reconciliation Commission, South Africans are still grappling with the issues of transition and many are suffering from the legacy of the unjust past. Often referred to as the ‘rainbow nation’, South Africa is, in reality, a complex 50-million multiplicity of peoples, religions, languages and cultures. In some ways first world and sophisticated, it is, in other respects, a third world country with many of its people suffering from poverty poor education and unemployment. The lessons of the Holocaust would therefore be of particular relevance to post-Apartheid South Africa, where there is an ongoing need to combat stereotyping, prejudice and racism, and to build bridges of mutual understanding and respect. The challenge however is to encourage those who might otherwise distance themselves from the Holocaust, an historical event which occurred two generations ago and many miles away, to realise that issues which arise from this history are of significance to their lives today. In order to meet this challenge it is important to relate to the South African Experience .Indeed there are many similarities between Nazi policies imposed on Jews between 1933 and 1939 and those imposed on the Black peoples of South Africa. However, after this point of entry it is imperative to stress the differences, not only for the sake of historical accuracy but in order to demonstrate what can happen , and did happen, when race prejudice and inter- group hatred are allowed to run rampant. Teaching the Holocaust can also help citizens in a fledgling democracy like South Africa to understand the essential nature of democracy - not only a citizen’s rights but also a citizen’s responsibilities. The Centre’s primary target groups are middle and high school pupils and their teachers. The Holocaust is not taught in state schools and therefore a large proportion of South African society is generally unaware of its facts and context. A 2-day teacher-training workshop, ‘Teaching for Tolerance’, was organised for over 300 teachers from broad spectrum of the community.The response was most positive and in the first few months 35 school groups from diverse backgrounds visited the Centre and participated in a 3-hour education programme. Policy-makers within the regional Education Department appreciate the educational value of the programmes being offered by the Holocaust Centre, which they see as becoming an important extension to the content of the current school curriculum. The experience of the first 4 months, whilst highlighting some challenges, has been most encouraging, and the Cape Town Holocaust Centre looks forward to the realisation of its vision. >> Back to top |
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Introduction Opening Session: Messages and speeches Plenary Sessions: Messages and speeches Workshops, Panels and Seminars
Other Activities |
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| For information about this production and the Stockholm International Forum Conference Series please go to www.humanrights.gov.se or contact Information Rosenbad, SE-103 33 Stockholm, Sweden | |||||||||