Teach Tolerance
Using Art and the "Lessons of the Holocaust--The Jewish World of Eastern Europe"
to Teach Tolerance and to Combat Anti-Semitism, Racism, Prejudice, and Bullying
How do you engage and teach students (and adults) so that they truly understand the importance of speaking out when they encounter prejudice, intolerance, and bullying in their lives? And, how can you teach these values so that they engage students of any age in such a way that they understand the importance of being an "upstander" when they encounter prejudice.
Using these drawings to teach about tolerance is especially effective because it draws students into other people's lives and provides a very effective way of reaching them. Because the drawings consistently elicit interest and questions about the people and their way of life, students develop a real connection with the people depicted and empathize with them.
Images such as "Inhumanity", "First They Came For The Jews", "Identity Papers", "Sisters With Jewish Stars", and "The Train to Auschwitz" make students aware of what happened.
And this, in turn, makes students much more open to discuss the questions raised by the drawings. Using the drawings as a springboard for discussion, the website becomes a powerful educational tool for students (and adults) of all ages.
The drawings can be incorporated into any curriculum and become an easy starting point for learning about differences and Teaching Tolerance-- because they depict a culture that was clearly different in outward appearance. Yet, there are many core human similarities with all the people depicted in the drawings that others can relate to and empathize with.
And, by presenting the information in a non-threatening way, the drawings provide a special opportunity for students of all ages to discuss such issues as tolerance, respecting differences, and what it feels like to be different. This awareness helps students see where prejudice can lead and what they can do on a personal level to confront prejudice and combat bullying.
Click on "How to Use This Site to Combat Prejudice" for suggestions.
Student/Teacher Comments
"These drawings are wonderfully haunting and beautiful."
“These drawings are incredible.”
Viewer comments
“Thank you so much for coming to speak to our students!! You were outstanding! You kept 30 eighth grade students totally involved for 45 minutes! Your art is outstanding and moved all of us in the audience."
Eighth Grade Teacher, Brimmer and May School, Boston, Ma.
“We studied the Holocaust, but it was just numbers. But now when I see the faces of the people and what happened to them, it makes it so much more real and now I really understand.”
Eighth Grade Student, Brimmer and May School, Boston,Ma.
" Your tolerance education is so valuable. Clearly, if kids are taught to be more tolerant of people who are different from themselves in some way, they are much, much less likely to bully those people."
Eighth Grade Teacher, Booker T. Washington Middle School, New York City
" This artwork makes me wonder how mankind was capable of such horrible events. We can now only educate people on the Holocaust in order to prevent future historical catastrophes. We can also speak up against the injustices we see in the world every day, helping to prevent these problems in the future."
Eighth Grade Student , Immaculate Conception Day School, Lowell, Ma.
"Thank you so much for sharing your work and your website with us.
Your website will be included in the curriculum of Immaculate Conception for many years to come.
Again, many thanks from Grade 8 and me!"
Eighth Grade Teacher , Immmaculate Conception Day School , Lowell, Ma
“Joan captures the look and eyes of the people she illustrates just beautifully so you really connect with them. Her show has impacted the community and we see it happening already. The group oohed and aahed---they were just so amazed at the drawings.
It was something they could really relate to.”
Head Community Services Librarian, Memorial Hall Libary, Andover, Ma.,
Quoted in Lawrence Eagle Tribune
Guidelines for Teaching
Questions/Topics for Discussion, as well as links to more detailed Lesson Plans, can be found on the "Combat Prejudice" page.
The lessons of the Holocaust are an integral part of our common history and can be used to combat Anti-Semitism, Racism, Prejudice, and Hatred. They can also be used as part of anti bullying programs in our schools.
"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." George Santayana