Pupils take trip to Nazi death camp

Oct 3 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

MP Pete Wishart joined a band of youngsters on an emotional visit to the notorious Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.

Reflecting on the Holocaust Education Trust venture which included pupils from schools including Perth High, St Columba’s High, Perth Grammar and Blairgowrie High, Mr Wishart said: “I cannot underestimate the importance of visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and recognising the full extent of the industrialised nature of the Holocaust.

“These events may have taken place over 60 years ago but, as our society bears witness, we need to continue to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to younger generations in order to fight bigotry and hatred today.

“I look forward to seeing how the students will communicate their experience to their peers and hope that this will ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are truly learnt, disseminated and acted upon.”

The one-day flying visit saw more than 200 sixth year students from Scotland given an opportunity to explore the universal lessons of the Holocaust and its relevance for today’s society.

The visit afforded a unique opportunity to see what happened, to pay respect to those who lost their lives, and to explore the lessons of the Holocaust.

The group was shown around the camp’s barracks and crematoria, and witnessed the registration documents of inmates, piles of hair, shoes, clothes and other personal items seized by the Nazis.

They were then taken the short distance to Birkenau, where a memorial and candle-lighting service was held to remember the six million Jews, and the Roma, Sinti, gay, disabled, black people, and other victims of the Nazis killed in the Holocaust.

On their return, students are required to give a presentation to their peers, based on their experience.

St Columba’s High pupil Stephanie Brown admitted it had been an emotional roller coaster for the teenagers.

She said: “It brought home what really happened during the Nazi era. Nowadays far too many people aren’t aware of what the Holocaust meant. It would be terrible if we were to forget.

“You see the personal effects of the victims and it was very emotional. I was close to tears, especially when a Rabbi was saying a prayer. We also met a survivor of Auschwitz and that made it even more real.”

Stephanie (17), Ross Avenue, is tackling an advanced Higher history course and she noted: “We touch on the war and the Holocaust in our course work but not in any great depth. Now we will talk about the experience at school assembly in the next few months.”

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) added: “We are delighted that Pete Wishart joined us on the visit with students from his constituency.

“The HET’s ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project is such a vital part of our work because it gives students the chance to understand more the dangers and potential effects of prejudice and racism today on a local and national scale.”