''High school students should be better educated on the causes and the reality of genocides in human society in order to teach them to recognise the prelude and the real probability of genocides in the future''
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Table of content
Context
Lack of genocide education + presence of genocide denial.
What should be taught to students about genocides?
The role that education must play in preventing future genocides.
Questions and feedback
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Context for this paper
Targeted audience: teachers, schoolboards and the ministry of education''
Written about the Dutch education system
Lemkin (1944):
Chosen definition (used by the UN): ''Whosoever, out of hatred towards a racial, religious, or social collectivity, or with the view of extermination thereof, undertakes a punishable action against the life, bodily integrity, dignity or economic existence of a person belonging to that collectivity is liable for the crime of genocide''
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Lack of genocide education
The last witnesses
Lack of knowledge
Lack of time
Other countries (Germany & Sweden)
Ernst Verduin (Auschwitz survivor) visiting my workplace in 2019. His last lecture at a high school. Last month he passed away due to a covid infection at the age of 94.
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Presence of genocide denial
Social media
Conspiracy theories
Weakening of democratic values
Teenagers are more easily influenced and convinced.
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What should be taught to student about genocides?
Unique but have similarities
Every genocide develops in a historical context and with trigering events such as: wars, unrest, economic downfall, political autarky and after epidemics.
Perpetrators will always find a way to justify their actions.
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The eight stages of every genocide
Developed by genocide expert Gregory H. Stanton in 1996:
1. Classification
2. Symbolisation
3. Dehumanisation
4. Organisation
5. Polarisation
6. Preparation
7. Extermination
8. Denial and downplay
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1. Classification
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2. Symbolisation
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3. Dehumanisation
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4. Organisation
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5. Polarisation
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6. Preparation
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7. Extermination
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8. Denial and downplay
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The role that education must play in preventing future genocides
Countering denial and conspiricy theories.
Promoting modern democratic values.
Teaching students to recognise the proces of genocide.
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''One student or one teacher cannot prevent a genocide, a generation of well-educated citizens can.''
Lesson duration is: 15 min
