"The trip to
Washington, DC, from July 24 to July 29, 2005, was the best in-service I
have ever attended in my thirty years of being a public and private school
educator. With a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, I have taught
graduate school. The amount of material that we covered and experienced
through our visits to the Holocaust Museum, to
the Smithsonian Museums, and by hearing
Holocaust survivors share their tragic experiences, has changed my life
and will affect how I teach in the future. The overall experience was so
powerful, and now that I have been home for one week, I'd like to reflect
on numerous experiences I had.
First, I am bringing back over a thousand dollars worth of videos, DVD's,
and books (hardbacks, paperbacks, nonfiction research books), as well as
units that my high school will be able to use in history and English
classes. From the training I received, I have already contacted my
building principal and will in-service my fellow high school teachers on
all the different materials. I will also use these materials, as English
Department chair, with my English III and AP English Language students,
plus show them, as well as introduce them to the Holland Knight website
where over fifty lessons are available on the
Holocaust that use some of the books I received.
Many of these materials will be added to our
high school library so they can be used by just not me, but the students
and faculty---once I have introduced them to them.
Second, meeting and experiencing the witnessing that the survivors did was
so touching, so educational, and so important. I took numerous pictures
which I will share with you and with my fellow teachers. Having the
opportunity to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the survivors, I left
this program with the feeling that I had made numerous new friends. We met
on Sunday as strangers and left Friday as friends. I have already shared
with my principal the powerful presentations that the survivors made.
Since returning home, I have read one of the novel written by one of the
survivors and viewed three videos with my husband and son.
...
Getting to know the student scholarship winners and the other teachers
chosen was worthwhile as well. Going to all the different monuments,
especially seeing the WWII Monument for the first time, as well as the
American Indian Museum, was so special. I had never experienced before the
National Gallery of Art or the Smithsonian History Museum. The photos I
took there will be shared with our high school art teacher, while the
photos on WW II that I took in the museum will be used when teaching about
the Holocaust and WW II. Having the workshop day to have training from a
master teacher and to view how we could use the sources being given by
Holland and Knight was so important.
Being treated like professional business travelers was so nice. I loved
the JW Marriott! Teachers are not used to such
royal treatment! Staying on Pennsylvania Avenue afforded me personally the
chance to explore each day from 6 AM to 7 AM. On daily walks, I journeyed
to the Capitol, to the White House, and to the Canadian Embassy. My camera
went on these walks, and I recorded Washington, DC, at a time
many people never see it. I viewed the homeless
as they slept, I saw the changing of security at the White House, and I
watched Washington wake. It was wonderful. Also, I was able to take
advantage of the health club by swimming and using the weights and
treadmill on the rainy morning we had. Thanks for this aspect of the
trip!!
Then we can't forget all those fabulous restaurants that we
experienced....from Sequoia in Georgetown, to the National Press Club, and
ending at the Hard Rock Cafe on the last day. Of course, I ate quickly so
I could visit the Ford Theater and see where President Lincoln
had been shot, as well as the house across the street where he
unfortunately died. These were all new experiences for me, as well. Having
the wonderful breakfast buffet daily at the
hotel was nice, as I could choose from such a great variety of foods, plus
I could sit with the other teachers and the survivors. The Thursday night
banquet was so nice. I enjoyed meeting the Holland and Knight lawyers.
Having Mr. Sessions as the MC was so nice and hearing such an important
man in public radio as Mr. Schorr was interesting. Being introduced and
honored as an educator awed me. And on a lighter note, eating the "White
House" for dessert----that will be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
I had never been to the Kennedy Center, so going to "Hairspray" was
extremely important to me. It gave us a chance to laugh and see a
well-done musical. Going onto the patio at intermission gave me a view of
Washington, DC, that I will probably never experience again. Thank you for
this as well!!!
The importance of the Holocaust Remembrance Scholarship Contest and trip
to Washington, DC. is that we can't forget the eleven million people that
died because one man wanted to eliminate a race of people. We, as
Americans, need to keep teaching the lessons of the Holocaust. This
scholarship contest gives teachers a great reason to stress these
historical events that so tragically destroyed so many people. We need to
honor American youth who choose to enter and to write powerful research
essays. The cost of college just keeps increasing. So every opportunity we
have to help our nation's future leaders is important. We also need to
strengthen the teachers---and thus the teacher training aspect needs to
continue. I know that I will share with my community of learners in Llano,
Texas.
Thank you, Holland and Knight, for caring about today's youth and today's
teachers. The investment you give will be returned to all our communities.
Because you care, we can teach better. This life-changing event for me
will never be forgotten."
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