Individuals & Societies Y10

Human rights and the holocaust 

by Caterina Pacitti, teacher of  Year 10 I&S

This week students visited the Jewish Holocaust Museum in Elsternwick to complement their study of Human Rights and the Holocaust in I&S class. They took away a strong message against racism and the flawed justification the Nazis used to discriminate against the Jews.

Students were also lucky to hear stories from Rosa, a Holocaust survivor, who demonstrated her strength and commitment to preserving the memory of the Holocaust. Rosa told of working in a factory making 'bicycle parts' and, upon discovering she was actually manufacturing bomb parts, decided to purposefully sabotage her work, showing incredible conviction in her beliefs despite the risk of severe punishment.

On finishing their session at the Museum the group then watched a screening of Nicky's Family at the Classic Cinemas nearby. This film told the true story of a humble British stockbroker who arranged for the transportation and housing of over 600 Jewish children out of Czechoslovakia to Britain, saving them from certain death. The students were amazed by his humility and generosity; many expressed their commitment to making positive change through simple acts of kindness.