London Profiles
'I Can't Wait till September': Educators from Across the Globe Gather for International Seminar
Last month, Facing History and Ourselves’ London office hosted its annual seminar for educators from across the globe. Now in its sixth year, the five-day international seminar, funded by the Safra Foundation and with space and food donated by Deutsche Bank, was oversubscribed. Thirty-eight attendees came from as near as England and as far away as Northern Ireland, South Africa, Israel, Poland, Austria, Mexico, and Rwanda. Below, Karen Murphy, Facing History’s International Director, shares her thoughts.
Suzanne Penderis – Townley Grammar School, Bexley, UK
“My intention is to build a foundation upon which Holocaust and Genocide studies could be expanded within the school, across schools and into the wider community. I will use art and personal experiences to make the issues accessible and stimulate further interest and discussion.
Philippa Bleach – Connaught School, Hampshire, UK
“I started at the Connaught School in September 2010 (after many years as a Facing History teacher in Reading) as the new head of history. I was invited to completely re-launch the department as it had been faced with an inordinate number of challenges. My key aim is to use Facing History as a tool to improve the community cohesion of the school.”
Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys
In 2002, then History teacher at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys (Thamesmead), Carrie McCarty, attended a Facing History seminar in Prague. She returned inspired to share her knowledge with her colleagues. Since then, Facing History has enjoyed a special place in Woolwich’s curriculum.
Skinner Company School for Girls and Notre Dame Academy
Skinner Company School for Girls and Notre Dame Academy are great examples of schools where Facing History is strengthening a partnership. Facing History is working with teachers to integrate our content and teaching strategies across the curriculum and throughout school culture.
Mari Williams: Creative Ways To Use Facing History And Ourselves
Mari Williams always finds creative ways to use Facing History and Ourselves. Beginning in 2001, while a teacher at Langdon School, Williams immersed herself in Facing History, attending “Holocaust and Human Behaviour” and “Race and Membership” seminars in the United States over two consecutive summers. She then introduced a Facing History course into her classes, which became the basis of her Masters degree.
Fella Cherid and Zahra Bajuny: Challenging Prejudices
Speaking at a community conversation with British journalist, Sarfraz Manzoor, two Facing History students, Fella Cherid and Zahra Bajuny, described the impact that Facing History has had on how they see themselves both today and in the future.
Joanne Upton: “Teaching is a Vital Moral Enterprise”
Speaking to community leaders from across London, Joanne Upton described the impact that Facing History and Ourselves has had on her approach to teaching:
“All Lessons Have Become Facing History”
Speaking to a group of community leaders from across London in the fall of 2010, Rebecca Warren, a teacher at the Skinner’s Academy Girls described what it means for her to be a Facing History teacher:
