Vision Schools Scotland

University of the West of Scotland

July 11, 2024
by Jane Caffrey
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Vision Schools Scotland hosts first conference on teaching and learning about the Holocaust

Vision Schools Scotland, in partnership with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) held its first international conference on teaching and learning about the Holocaust at the SEC, Glasgow on Sunday 23 June 2024. Lord Eric Pickles, United Kingdom Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues and IHRA Chair, was joined by fellow members of the UK IHRA delegation that includes Dr Paula Cowan, University of the West of Scotland and Director, Vision Schools Scotland, Alex Maws, Association of Jewish Refugees, Dr Ruth-Anne Lenga, Centre for Holocaust Education, University College London and Martin Winstone, the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Keynote speakers were Dr Rob Williams, Finci- Viterbi Executive Director of the USC Shoah Foundation and adviser to the IHRA who spoke on distortion of the Holocaust, and Prof Mehnaz Afridi, Director of the Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education Centre at Manhattan College who spoke on Teaching the Holocaust to Muslin students.

There were also shorter presentations from delegates from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) from Australia, Serbia and the UK   on specific aspects of teaching the Holocaust, and from teachers from Vision Schools who shared their ideas and good practice.

Chitra Ramaswamy an author and journalist spoke about her latest book, Homelands: The History of a Friendship, published by Canongate in April 2022, exploring the life of and her friendship with Henry Wuga MBE (1924- 2024), then a 98-year-old German Jewish refugee. This book won the Saltire Prize Non- Fiction Book of the Year, 2022.

Dr Cowan said, “We were thrilled to host the first ever international conference on teaching and learning about the Holocaust in Scotland. Several teachers in the Vision Schools Scotland network have indicated that they have experienced new challenges this year, and we are delighted to be able to provide teachers a unique CPD opportunity which we hope will support teachers address these challenges. The conference covered a breadth of topics from best practice in teaching about the Holocaust-to-Holocaust distortion and teaching the Roma genocide.

My thanks to the School of Education and Social Sciences at the University of the West of Scotland, for supporting this conference, to IHRA for its wonderful assistance, and to each of the amazing speakers, my colleagues at Vision Schools Scotland welcomed to Glasgow.”

Established in 2017, Vision Schools Scotland is a partnership between and the Holocaust Educational Trust. Vision Schools Scotland is funded by UWS and the Scottish Government, with additional support from the Department of Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities.

‘Gathering the Voices’, an exhibition on people who sought sanctuary in Scotland to escape the Holocaust, was also available for conference participants to view.

 

The IHRA reported on the conference here Embedding Holocaust education throughout schools in Scotland – IHRA (holocaustremembrance.com)

May 1, 2024
by Jane Caffrey
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SAVE THE DATE – SUNDAY 23RD JUNE 2024

Teacher Conference on Teaching and Learning About the Holocaust

A partnership between Vision Schools Scotland and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, this teacher conference will be held at SEC, Glasgow on Sunday 23rd June. Key speakers are Dr. Robert Williams, Executive Director, USC Shoah Foundation, Los Angeles, and UNESCO Chair on Antisemitism and Holocaust Research, and Prof. Mehnaz Afridi, Director, Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Center, Manhattan College, New York.

Keep checking here and website Vision Schools Scotland | UWS for registration or  email  visionschools@uws.ac.uk to express your interest. Numbers will be limited.

January 9, 2024
by Jane Caffrey
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Holocaust Educational Trust – Scottish Teacher (In Person) Study Seminar on Sunday 21 January, Edinburgh City Centre

On Sunday 21 January 2024, The Holocaust Educational Trust will host a Scottish Teacher Study Seminar (10:00-16:30 – in-person – the Melting Pot, 15 Calton Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8DL –  Edinburgh City Centre)

Our Scottish Teacher Study Seminar will explore Scotland’s connection to the Holocaust and the pedagogy of teaching about the Holocaust in Scottish schools. Speakers include Professor Hannah Holtschneider (The University of Edinburgh) and Dr Emily Smith (Holocaust Educational Trust).

Professor Hannah Holtschneider (The University of Edinburgh) will talk about the Jewish Lives, Scottish Spaces: Jewish Migration to Scotland, 1880-1950 project and the Points of Arrival digital resource pack for schools which explores Jewish migration to Scotland in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Dr Emily Smith will speak about the experiences of Jewish refugees who arrived in Britain before the Second World War, including those who stayed in Whittingehame Farm School just outside of Edinburgh.

We welcome participation from teachers across Scotland, particularly those engaging with the Vision Schools Scotland programme.

To sign up for the seminar please click here 

December 4, 2023
by Jane Caffrey
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Holocaust Memorial Day 2024

HMD 2024 GUIDANCE FOR ACTIVITY ORGANISERS IN LIGHT OF THE CONFLICT IN ISRAEL AND GAZA

HMDT are providing guidance and support to those who may be feeling nervous or unsure about organising HMD events in the light of recent worldwide events. Please see the link below for further guidance.

Holocaust Memorial Day Trust | HMD 2024 Guidance for activity organisers in light of the conflict in Israel and Gaza

Fragility of Freedom is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2024.

November 16, 2023
by Jane Caffrey
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Supporting Teachers : The Israel-Hamas War

As an organisation  that  focuses on  teaching and learning about the Holocaust and Citizenship, Vision Schools Scotland is committed to supporting  teachers at this unprecedented time.

Recommended Sources

Message on the Israel-Hamas conflict  from the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, the Minister for Schools, Nick Gibb and the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon.

Partnerships for Jewish Schools  (PAJES)   provides  advice  for teachers  working in non- Jewish schools as well  as teachers working in Jewish schools.

  Solutions not Sides a critical approach to  education on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict.

 Recommended Websites

Christian Action Against Antisemitism  

 The Community Security Trust  for information on antisemitism in the UK

The Council for Christians and Jews an interfaith organisation that challenges prejudice and persecution.
Tell Mama for information on  anti-Muslim  hate in the UK

October 10, 2023
by Jane Caffrey
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2nd Generation Event held at Dumfries High School

Dumfries High School were recently awarded their Vision Schools Scotland Level 1 Award. As part of the award celebration, Lead Teacher, Miss Smithard meticulously organised a Second Generation Survivor event in the school on Thursday 5th October 2023.

Over 300 guests were welcomed to hear first hand,  Holocaust survivors Henry and Ingrid Wuga’s daughters; Hilary Hodsman and Gillian Field, tell their parents story to an audience of S3, Higher History pupils, S5 RME pupils from a neighbouring High School, councillors, MSP’s, members of the public and friends of the school.

Vision Schools Scotland were delighted to help facilitate this amazing event and in partnership with Holocaust Educational Trust continue to promote excellence in Holocaust Education.

Find out more about Vision Schools Scotland at Vision Schools Scotland | UWS

 

Left to Right front row: Miss Lizzie Smithard, Mrs Gillian Field (Henry & Ingrid Wuga’s daughter) S6 Dumfries HS pupils, Mrs Hilary Hodsman (Henry & Ingrid Wuga’s daughter)

Left to Right back row:  Elyssa Ramage Vision Schools Scotland, Dr Andrew Killen, Vision Schools, S6 Dumfries HS Pupil, Dr Catriona Oates, Vision Schools Scotland, Mr Philip Cubbon, Head Teacher Dumfries HS, Jane Caffrey; Vision Schools Scotland and Prof Henry Maitles Vision Schools Scotland

June 20, 2023
by Jane Caffrey
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Enhance your Professional Learning – LEVEL 11 MODULE IN CITIZENSHIP AND HOLOCAUST EDUCATION

Citizenship & Holocaust Education Level 11 Module Leaflet P2

Vision Schools Scotland are offering subsidies to teachers on the UWS Level 11 Module, Citizenship and Holocaust Education which runs from late August-December 2023.  This learning module gives teachers the opportunity to enhance their professional practice in, and understanding of, a wide range of relevant themes in Citizenship and Holocaust Education.

You can apply for a grant of the module fee if you:

  • teach in a Vision School
  • teach in a school that has applied to be Vision School
  • teach in a school that is applying to be a Vision School in 2023/2024.  Schools can nominate up to 4 teachers to apply for this subsidy.
  • Schools that have previously received two subsidies can nominate one other teacher.
  • More information in the leaflet attached.

June 1, 2023
by Jane Caffrey
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Lessons from Auschwitz CLPL for Teachers in Scotland

The Holocaust Educational Trust will be hosting a Lessons from Auschwitz CLPL workshop for teachers across Scotland.  The workshop will be available as an online event taking place over two evenings, or as an in-person event taking place at the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre in Glasgow.

Dates and more information can be found here https://www.het.org.uk/news-and-events/upcoming-events/1203-lfa-clpl-scotland and below.

Online: Tuesday 20 (16:30-18:30) and Wednesday 21 June (16:30-18:30)

In-person – Glasgow: Sunday 25 June (09:45-16:30)

Programme overview

The aim of the workshop is to explore how schools can engage in teaching about the Holocaust through the Scottish curriculum. By integrating teaching about the Holocaust holistically across our primary and secondary schools we can ensure that all pupils have the skills to examine a defining moment in human history which raises fundamental questions about human identity, behaviour and ethics. By broadening our approach across schools, we also ensure that S5/6 students taking part in the Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project have the prior knowledge to engage in advanced learning, and that teachers feel confident to support these students.

The Holocaust Educational Trust works in partnership with the School of Education at the University of the West of Scotland on the Vision Schools Scotland (VSS) programme which seeks to promote embedded, holistic teaching of the Holocaust across the curriculum. Through work with the VSS project, the Trust has provided CLPL opportunities to Scottish teachers including walking tours of Glasgow exploring the history of Scottish-Jewry and the many connections between the city and the Holocaust.

This workshop will introduce teachers to organisations working across Scotland to encourage consideration of how teaching resources, travelling exhibitions, site visits and walking tours can enhance our students learning, and support the Next Steps work of students taking part in the Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project.

Who Should Apply?

We welcome registrations of interest from teachers and trainees of all subject areas, currently in post or training across Scotland. We welcome participation from more than one teacher from each school. Participants are required to be available for the whole of the in-person seminar, or both online sessions.

How much does it cost?  The course is free to attend.

How to Apply  Register your interest here

We do hope you will be able to join these CLPL sessions.

March 27, 2023
by Jane Caffrey
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Remembering the Warsaw uprising as 80th anniversary nears – Article in the National by Emeritus Professor Henry Maitles

THIS coming April 19 marks the 80th anniversary of one of the most significant events of the Second World War. On that date in 1943 – following mass defiance of the occupying Nazi forces among the 50,000 Jews who were still living in the Warsaw Ghetto – Jewish fighters launched the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.  Read more of the article here:

https://www.thenational.scot/news/23412659.remembering-warsaw-uprising-80th-anniversary-nears/

 

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