Year 8 Holocaust trip
On Tuesday 5th May, all the year 8 classes went on an RE trip to the Holocaust centre and Museum in Newark, Nottingham. When we got there we were greeted by the centre supervisor who talked us through the day ahead. There was an awful amount of things to do and we couldn’t help wondering if we would have time for them all. . We were then shown a few pictures of before the Holocaust, when it was peaceful, when the Holocaust had just started, when the Jews started to be discriminated against and during the middle of the Holocaust which everyone had to discuss together. We were then shown a short film clip of the Holocaust and how it affected Jews all around the world. Year 8 was then split into their form groups to look at the 3 different sections of the Museum.
Firstly we got to outside and enjoy the memorial garden. Personally, I found this extremely moving because although the messages weren’t particularly long, they were powerful and got everybody thinking. There were plaques with white roses. As we went round we filled in our booklets which got as to try and ask questions rather than just finding answers.
We then went into the temporary exhibition which explained lots about genocide protestors and about the stone slabs in Germany which represented the Jews. Most of us were shocked by the horrible conditions in the concentration camps and it really put into perspective how much the Jews were discriminated against.
In the main exhibition we saw things like signs on park benches saying ‘Jews are not welcome guests’ which was awful and the ghettos which the Jews were all squashed into.
After this very moving morning we had lunch and time to browse the gift shop.
The most emotional part of the day was after lunch. We had the opportunity to listen to Simon Winston, a Holocaust survivor. He talked us through how his family were shoved into a ghetto and managed to escape. Every single word he said was captivating and every single person that was in the room was hanging on his every word. It was an extremely interesting, emotional and touching story and one that the pupils will never forget. After he had finished talking, he asked if we had any questions, of which there were many, and then he signed copies of his books.
The year 8 pupils had a fantastic time at the centre and we would recommend it anyone who wants a day out. We would definitely go again and maybe take our families too.
Jack Clemmey and Charlotte Whitehouse 8C
More photos in the RE Gallery < Here >