Holocaust Education – Delivery Requirements

Overcoming barriers to quality provision

The following barriers to designing and delivering a quality Holocaust Education program are commonly found in schools; solutions and links to support resources are proposed in each case.

Teachers

For teachers who lack Holocaust-related content knowledge — refer to Holocaust Education teacher professional learning on the Holocaust Education FUSE page.

For teachers who worry that their teaching will be ‘wrong’ given the particularities and complexities of the Holocaust — refer to Characteristics of a quality Holocaust Education program.

For teachers who worry that the content will be traumatising for students — refer to Characteristics of a quality Holocaust Education program, particularly characteristic 5; and the Department’s Teaching and Learning Resources — Selecting Appropriate Materials policy.

For teachers who worry that they will get questions from students that they aren’t sure how to answer — refer to Echoes and reflections Student’s toughest questions; refer to Difficult student questions from practice.

For teachers who anticipate reluctance or resistance from some students — refer to Characteristics of a quality Holocaust Education program, particularly characteristic 7.

School leaders

For school leaders who feel that they can’t ‘fit’ Holocaust Education into a busy curriculum program — refer to the Department’s Holocaust Education — Delivery Requirements policy.

For school leaders who are happy to offer a program optionally or at a surface level, lacking breadth and depth — refer to the Department’s Holocaust Education — Delivery Requirements policy; refer to Characteristics of a quality Holocaust Education program, particularly characteristic 2; review sample History lesson sequences on FUSE to see what a quality Holocaust Education looks like and how it can be designed and delivered.

For parents/carers

Where families are reluctant to have their children participate in Holocaust Education programs due to personal attitudes/views — create an information sheet or newsletter insert for parents/carers drawing on the rationale provided above at Why study the Holocaust? Refer also to the Department’s Holocaust Education — Delivery Requirements policy.