Teacher Education
From its inception, the founders of the Holocaust Resource Center (HRC) recognized that education was integral to the accomplishment of its mission. As a result, HRC's first activity centered on preparation of a tuition-free graduate course for teachers, "Teaching the Holocaust," which was first offered at Kean University in the spring semester of 1983. As enrollment in the course increased, it expanded from the University to various local school districts to allow for greater teacher preparation.
The success of this initial offering led to the creation of a follow-up course, "Teaching Prejudice Reduction," which was introduced in the spring semester of 1989. Over the years, thousands of teachers have participated in the project.
The Center's educational programs serve as a resource for many Kean University undergraduate students and members of the community. Each year students enrolled in HRC's graduate and undergraduate courses visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.
Email hrc@kean.edu for more information and a current off-site schedule with a list of locations.
HOLOCAUST RESOURCE CENTER OF KEAN UNIVERSITY
COURSE OFFERING DESCRIPTIONS
All courses are offered tuition-free through the sponsorship of the Holocaust Resource Foundation.
EMSE 5342 Teaching the Holocaust (Fall Semester)
This course will balance historical information with Holocaust teaching pedagogy. Historical content will be determined by the depth of class background in the subject matter. The Holocaust will be viewed from the perspective of the perpetrator, the victim, and the bystander. Emphasis will be placed on issues such as anti-Semitism, the nature of evil, and the responsibility of individuals and institutions such as governments and religious organizations. Participants will look to first understand the Holocaust and its lessons themselves, and then find instructional methods to support their students in doing the same. Strategies for teaching the subject at all grade levels will be explored, and age-appropriate curricular materials will be examined and developed. A connection will also be made between the lessons of the Holocaust and the human rights issues of recent times. The format will include brief lectures, class discussions, survivor testimony, a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and perusal of literature, videotapes/DVDs, and print material. This course also serves as an elective in the Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies program.
EMSE 5343 Teaching Prejudice Reduction (Spring Semester)
This course will draw significantly upon the experiences and background of the class. The nature of the subject matter will engender active and usually intense discussions. Among the topics examined during this semester will be race, ethnicity, multiculturalism, the nature of prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping, bullying, and scapegoating. Issues of gender, class, disabilities, homophobia, and the minority experience in America, past and present, will be focal points of discussion. Teaching strategies which aim to reduce the role of prejudice in students' lives today and in the future will be extensively emphasized. Curricular materials, age-appropriate, will be examined as well as videotapes/DVDs, and guest speakers. This course also serves as an elective in the Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies program.
EMSE 5348 Advanced Research Seminar in Teaching the Holocaust (Fall Semester)
This seminar is designed to bring together graduate students who have previously taken EMSE 5342 - Teaching the Holocaust and wish to pursue an in-depth examination of critical issues in Holocaust education. In addition to this examination, the course is primarily a research seminar, and participants will be engaged in independent study for the purpose of designing and implementing courses of study for their students and their districts. Students will also have the opportunity to examine scholarly works on related Holocaust issues. The seminar meetings will provide an opportunity for educators from diverse districts to network and share strategies and curricular materials that have been successfully implemented in their districts. Students will have the opportunity to dialogue with several invited scholars. Course offered at Kean only.
EMSE 5349 Advanced Research Seminar in Prejudice Reduction (Spring Semester)
This seminar will continue the collaboration begun in EMSE 5348 and focus on a critical examination of multicultural and diversity education in our schools. Participants will examine recently published works and courses of study and again engage in independent study of a selected focus area. The primary outcome of this course will be the development of a teachable curriculum for students or a professional development program regarding an issue of diversity or prejudice reduction for staff. Course offered at Kean only.
Email hrc@kean.edu for more information on these course offerings at Kean University.
