Last Friday, November 14, students from two third-year classes of the W. Broniewski First High School in Świdnik, together with their homeroom teachers, took part in another study trip in the series to the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.
The Heschel Center at KUL is carrying out a project aimed at familiarizing young people with the realities of World War II and the history of relations between Christians and Jews. As part of these efforts, a series of educational trips was created. The first part of the programme was a visit to the POLIN Museum. There, the students took part in a tour of the exhibition “A Journey through POLIN,” which allowed them to trace the development of the Polish state and the long-standing presence of the Jewish community in Poland, along with its influence on culture and social life.
The initiative is framed within a narrative about the fate of Poles and Jews from the Middle Ages to the present day. Particular attention was given to the dramatic events of World War II, the daily life of the residents of the Warsaw Ghetto, and the difficult choices faced by the communities of that time. During the city walk “Biography of the Ghetto,” participants also learned about excerpts from Hanna Krall’s interview book with Marek Edelman, “Shielding the Flame,” which served as one of the reference points for the discussed topics.
“The trip made a huge impression on me,” Bartek said in an interview with HCN. “Walking along the borders of the former Warsaw Ghetto was an experience that made me reflect on what the world looked like then and feel grateful that I can live in the times we have now. I also think a lot about those events in the context of the present day.”
“We had the pleasure of taking part in a tour of the POLIN Museum, where we learned a lot about the history and culture of the Jews; it was something completely new to me. The walk through the area of the Warsaw Ghetto was very moving,” added Sebastian.
“I didn’t know the history of Polish Jews before,” said Natalia. “Their story is usually associated with World War II; thanks to the museum visit, I learned many new things.”
Ms. Jolanta, the homeroom teacher, also shared her impressions:
"The trip we took was incredibly moving and engaging. We had the opportunity to encounter and learn an important part of history and the role Jews played in the history of Poland. A particularly meaningful experience was examining the dramatic history of the Warsaw Ghetto, especially in the context of current social and cultural transformations. In addition, Hanna Krall’s ‘Shielding the Flame’ is part of the core curriculum for third-year students. Seeing the places described in the book with their own eyes will help the students when discussing it in class."
The study trip program was developed in accordance with the curriculum for upper-secondary schools. Thanks to this, the students were able to visit places in Warsaw - especially in the Muranów district - that appear in ‘Shielding the Flame,’ Hanna Krall’s interview with Marek Edelman, one of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. This book is included on the list of required readings in high school, which made the visit to Warsaw an excellent complement to classroom learning and an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the events described.
Trips to the POLIN Museum are organized thanks to the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
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