HERC News

Maclay teacher Lauren Fantle with Holocaust survivor Fritz Gluckstein during the Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellowship Program. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAUREN FANTLE

Ashley White Tallahassee Democrat

A Tallahassee teacher was selected from a national pool of educators for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellowship Program.

Maclay High School Teacher Lauren Fantle was selected for the five-day, all expenses paid institute created to train attendees in Holocaust education.

“I felt very honored to be included amongst such a dedicated group of educators,” said the 15-year educator. “This is so incredibly important because history doesn’t necessarily repeat itself, but it does cast echoes and shadows, and we should be aware of the warning signs of genocide.”

Scenes from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

The program wants to ensure students are learning how and why the Holocaust happened and strengthen students’ critical thinking about their roles in society, said Kim Blevins-Relleva, the program coordinator.

Educators who work with grades 7-12 are selected for the fellowship. During the week, attendees study the exhibits at the museum located in Washington, D.C. Fantle, who teaches English, which includes a Holocaust literature and film course, said she was particularly interested by a discussion on students’ responses to crisis, contemporary genocide and crimes against humanity.

Fantle, left, with “Becoming Evil” author James Waller.

“Drawing connections between the Holocaust and other genocides is so essential,” she said. “We should be actively aware as global citizens in order to prevent the progression of hate toward crimes against.”

Two other memorable moments for Fantle were meeting James Waller, author of “Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide & Mass Killings.” The other was hearing Holocaust survivor Fritz Gluckstein’s story and asking him questions.

Fantle will create an outreach project based on what she’s learned but can’t disclose the details yet.

“We’ve discussed many opportunities for global partnership via technology and through travel,” she said.

The group will reconvene next summer to evaluate their efforts and continue their studies.

More information

To learn more about U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and its programs, visit www.ushmm.org. For local information about Holocaust education, contact Barbara Goldstein at the Holocaust Education Resource Council (HERC) by email at barbara@holocaustresources.org.