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'FRESHMAN SEMINAR' USES THE HOLOCAUST TO TEACH LIFE LESSONS
By Melody Hanatani
Santa Monica Daily Press
http://www.smdp.com/article/articles/4649/1/ Samohi-exhibit-talks-about-choices/Page1.html/prin t/4649
Jan 29 2008
CA
The choices made today can shape tomorrow.
It's a lesson that students in a freshman seminar at Santa Monica
High School have learned over the past four months and one that will
be relayed to the public tonight through an exhibit that features a
series of poems, essays and art work that ties in the Holocaust with
the power of choice.
Titled "Saving Memories: History as a Witness to the Future," the
exhibit showcases the work of more than 100 freshmen that spent
several months studying a survivor from the 1939 Club, one of the
largest organizations of Holocaust survivors that is based in Los
Angeles. Each student in the mandatory freshman seminar was charged
with the task of examining a survivor's testimony and transcribing
the power of that experience into the form of a written or art piece.
Part of the assignment included connecting the survivor's experience
to themselves, said Tisha Reichle, who teaches one of the sections.
"The class is about choices and the factors that influence the
choices we make, " the Samohi teacher said on Monday. "It looks at
what influences the choices we make and looks at how we can make
a more positive contribution to our community, whether it's our
geographical neighborhood, school community, racial community or
religious community."
The seminar is sponsored in conjunction with Facing History and
Ourselves, an international organization that aims to educate students
about issues of racism and prejudice in society. The non-profit
organization provides the framework and resources for the freshman
seminar, a program they run in various high schools and grade levels
across the country.
The exhibit, which is an aspect of the year-long course, is part of the
Ninth Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest, which is sponsored by
Chapman University. The students responsible for the top three pieces,
which will be announced at the high school tonight, will be sent to
Chapman University next week where they will compete with hundreds
of students from Southern California. The student that earns the top
prize will win $500.
"The students were asked to reflect on the memories that spoke to
them and what the importance is of having memories," said Mary Hendra,
the program associate with Facing History and Ourselves.
The exhibit tomorrow night will feature Alfred Benjamin, a Santa
Monica resident and Holocaust survivor.
Benjamin, who has lived in Santa Monica for 36 years, was born
in Hamburg, Germany in 1936 and was the only member of his family
to survive the Holocaust. The career photographer and artist has
traveled the country on speaking engagements, teaching the history
of the Holocaust through his own personal experience.
"I want to give (my memories) to the next generation so that the
memory will be kept alive," Benjamin said on Monday.
Facing History and Ourselves' involvement with Samohi's freshman
seminar began about three years ago to provide a place where students
could explore the issue of identity, said Hendra, who taught the
course in 2005.
Aside from the Holocaust, the students have studied other genocides
that have taken place throughout history, including the Armenian and
Rwandan genocides.
"We look at the Holocaust and the (factors) that influence the
choices people make - the choice to be a bystander and do nothing,
to be upstanders and to rescue people," Reichle said. "To in some
way do something or to be a witness."
The exhibit and reception will be held at the Mortensen Library on
the Santa Monica High School Campus, 601 Pico Blvd., from 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m.
By Melody Hanatani
Santa Monica Daily Press
http://www.smdp.com/article/articles/4649/1/ Samohi-exhibit-talks-about-choices/Page1.html/prin t/4649
Jan 29 2008
CA
The choices made today can shape tomorrow.
It's a lesson that students in a freshman seminar at Santa Monica
High School have learned over the past four months and one that will
be relayed to the public tonight through an exhibit that features a
series of poems, essays and art work that ties in the Holocaust with
the power of choice.
Titled "Saving Memories: History as a Witness to the Future," the
exhibit showcases the work of more than 100 freshmen that spent
several months studying a survivor from the 1939 Club, one of the
largest organizations of Holocaust survivors that is based in Los
Angeles. Each student in the mandatory freshman seminar was charged
with the task of examining a survivor's testimony and transcribing
the power of that experience into the form of a written or art piece.
Part of the assignment included connecting the survivor's experience
to themselves, said Tisha Reichle, who teaches one of the sections.
"The class is about choices and the factors that influence the
choices we make, " the Samohi teacher said on Monday. "It looks at
what influences the choices we make and looks at how we can make
a more positive contribution to our community, whether it's our
geographical neighborhood, school community, racial community or
religious community."
The seminar is sponsored in conjunction with Facing History and
Ourselves, an international organization that aims to educate students
about issues of racism and prejudice in society. The non-profit
organization provides the framework and resources for the freshman
seminar, a program they run in various high schools and grade levels
across the country.
The exhibit, which is an aspect of the year-long course, is part of the
Ninth Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest, which is sponsored by
Chapman University. The students responsible for the top three pieces,
which will be announced at the high school tonight, will be sent to
Chapman University next week where they will compete with hundreds
of students from Southern California. The student that earns the top
prize will win $500.
"The students were asked to reflect on the memories that spoke to
them and what the importance is of having memories," said Mary Hendra,
the program associate with Facing History and Ourselves.
The exhibit tomorrow night will feature Alfred Benjamin, a Santa
Monica resident and Holocaust survivor.
Benjamin, who has lived in Santa Monica for 36 years, was born
in Hamburg, Germany in 1936 and was the only member of his family
to survive the Holocaust. The career photographer and artist has
traveled the country on speaking engagements, teaching the history
of the Holocaust through his own personal experience.
"I want to give (my memories) to the next generation so that the
memory will be kept alive," Benjamin said on Monday.
Facing History and Ourselves' involvement with Samohi's freshman
seminar began about three years ago to provide a place where students
could explore the issue of identity, said Hendra, who taught the
course in 2005.
Aside from the Holocaust, the students have studied other genocides
that have taken place throughout history, including the Armenian and
Rwandan genocides.
"We look at the Holocaust and the (factors) that influence the
choices people make - the choice to be a bystander and do nothing,
to be upstanders and to rescue people," Reichle said. "To in some
way do something or to be a witness."
The exhibit and reception will be held at the Mortensen Library on
the Santa Monica High School Campus, 601 Pico Blvd., from 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m.