August 6-10, 2012: Holocaust Workshop for Teachers

Teacher Training Endowed Workshop on the Holocaust

[thanks to Eva and Eugene Schlesinger]

August 6-10, 2012

California State University, Long Beach

 

So it was my second time to attend a Holocaust workshop (this one was hosted by the UC-CSU California History-Social Science Project (CHSSP) and every material given during the workshop (for FREE as well as a stipend and credits) was thanks to the people who made it all happen--Eva and Eugene Schlesinger. Thank you!!!

This year's emphasis concentrated on the many different people involved during the Holocaust: Perpetrators, Victims, Bystanders, and Deniers. When we think of the Holocaust, we usually just think of the perpetrators and the victims. We rarely think about the bystanders (were they guilty as well?) and the deniers, which was what made this workshop very informative for me because I never really took those two latter groups into consideration. 

Not only did this workshop offer a lot of subject matter competency, but they also gave ideas on how to teach it appropriately to students. There were intense discussions for every topic, book readings (we had homework if we wanted credit), and lecture given. There were actual Holocaust survivor speakers--Gerda Krebs-Seifer and Sol Berger). 

Monday, August 6th - Introduction

Dr. Jeff Blutinger, "The Holocaust: A History" [lecture]

Stacy Jackson, Presentation of ADL Echoes and Reflections [material/curriculum walkthrough]

Dr. Jeff Blutinger, Introduction to Hillberg's Perpetrators, Victims, and Bystanders [lecture and discussion]

Tuesday, August 7th - Perpetrators

Bill Younglove, discussion of selections from Hillberg's Perpetrators, Victims, and Bystanders

Dr. Michael Berenbaum, "Perpetrators" [lecture]

Dave Neumann, debrief of Dr. Berenbaum's presentation

Bill Younglove, presentation on Teaching the History of the Holocaust

Review materials on United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) website

Wednesday, August 8th - Victims

We met up at the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

Bill Younglove, discussion of selections from Hillberg's Perpetrators, Victims, and Bystanders

Dr. Wolf Gruner, "Victims of the Holocaust" [lecture]

LA Holocaust Museum tour, including talk by survivor Sol Berger

Thursday, August 9th - Bystanders

Bill Younglove, discussion of selections from Hillberg's Perpetrators, Victims, and Bystanders

Dr. Jeff Blutinger, "Bystanders" [lecture]

Sherry Bard, Interactive presentation of USC Shoah Foundation materials

Holocaust survivor speaker - Gerda Seifer, "Living with a Rescuer"

Jewish Studies Program Reception

Friday, August 10th - Deniers

Bill Younglove, discussion of selections from Hillberg's Perpetrators, Victims, and Bystanders

Dr. Don Schwartz, "Deniers" [lecture]

Ron Schmidt, screening of Labyrinth

RESOURCES
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM): http://www.ushmm.org/
Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust: http://www.lamoth.org/
USC Shoah Foundation's iWitness (testimonials): http://iwitness.usc.edu/SFI/
Echoes and Reflection (Holocaust curriculum): http://www.echoesandreflections.org/

RESOURCES Recommended by Participants
Books:
Reich, Prisoner of Her Past: The First and Final Nightmare of Sonia Reich
Rosner and Tubah, An Uncommon Friendship
Tec, Dry Tears
Zimbardo, The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How good People Turn Evil
Films: 
Amen
Au Revoir, Les Enfants
Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Defiance
Encyclopedia of the Twentieth Century
Europa, Europa
The Grey Zone
Paperclips
Playing for Time
Sarah’s Key
Sophie’s Choice
The Pianist

------------------------------------------

As for the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. I highly recommend it if you live in the area. It's right next to The Grove. Admission is absolutely FREE, with a FREE audio tour, and HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR SPEAKERS at certain times. There is A LOT of information you can learn from here (I spent around 4 hours here last time with a friend and we still weren't done with everything!). 

When one door closes, another one opens!

Well, actually, when a few door closes....

Hello Diana Nguyen,

We would like to thank you for submitting your application for the History position as advertised on Edjoin for ATAMS High School. We were very fortunate to have various applicants interested in our vacancy. After careful consideration, I am sorry to inform you that you have not been chosen for the position.

We thank you again for your interest with our organization and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Leandro Otero

Recruitment Coordinator

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools

----------------------------------

Hello Diana Nguyen,

We would like to thank you for submitting your application for the US History/Geography position as advertised on Edjoin for Alliance MA #7. We were very fortunate to have various applicants interested in our vacancy. After careful consideration, I am sorry to inform you that you have not been chosen for the position.

We thank you again for your interest with our organization and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Leandro Otero

Recruitment Coordinator

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools

----------------------------------

... another one opens! 

Will have my interview for the Irvine Unified School District for the Instructional Assistant position tomorrow at noon!!!

Wish me luck! I really need this job. 

 

Workshop - Sites of Encounter: Empires in World History

Sites of Encounter: Empires in World History
June 25th, 2012 - June 28th, 2012 at California State University, Long Beach

Empires in World History: Power and the Politics of Difference by Jane Burbank and Frederick Cooper
ISBN: 0691152365

Monday, 6/25

Empires in World History Discussion

1. Differences within Empires: Mongol Empire = after you conquer people, you see that they're different and so try to figure a way to rule them that is less conflicting and efficient (i.e. religious tolerance) = "soft power" approach
2. Imperial Intermediaries: Belgians using Tutsis to take over Rwanda (rivalries within Rwanda among tribes); using military groups to train locals; need intermediaries because it's difficult to rule edges of your empire.
3. Imperial Imaginaries: A lot of racial theories come into play; religion was a huge factor  in trying to make imperial rule easier by having the conquered "buy in" to the dominant ideology.
4. Repertoires of Power: Some conquerors decide to rule different area differently; different things, different people, different places, and different times makes concept of empires differ throughout history.

- Models of empires are useful because:

1. Provide framework.
2. Allow cause/effect, compare/contrast.
3. Allows U.S. history students to see different perspectives.
4. Notice patterns throughout history rather than viewing history as separate events (novice v. expert).

Lecture - Tim Keirn: Empire in India

Tuesday, 6/26
Meeting at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA (http://www.bowers.org/)
Lecture - Rachel O'Toole: Empire in the Americas

Wednesday, 6/27
Model Lesson on Manifest Destiny
Lecture - Steve Aron: American Empire
Model Lesson on American Imperialism

Thursday, 6/28
Lecture - Eileen Luhr: End of Empire
Using Film in the Classroom - Mangal Pandey (Sepoy rebellion in India)

More rejections... :(

"Hello Diana Nguyen,

We would like to thank you for submitting your application for the Social Science position as advertised on Edjoin for Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy #5. We were very fortunate to have various applicants interested in our vacancy. After careful consideration, I am sorry to inform you that you have not been chosen for the position.

We thank you again for your interest with our organization and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Leandro Otero

Recruitment Coordinator

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools"

-----------------------

"Hello Diana Nguyen,

We would like to thank you for submitting your application for the US History position as advertised on Edjoin for Alliance Cindy and Bill Simon Tech Academy High School. We were very fortunate to have various applicants interested in our vacancy. After careful consideration, I am sorry to inform you that you have not been chosen for the position.

We thank you again for your interest with our organization and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Leandro Otero

Recruitment Coordinator

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools"

---------------------

"Hello Diana Nguyen,

We would like to thank you for submitting your application for the World History position as advertised on Edjoin for Alliance Cindy and Bill Simon Tech High School. We were very fortunate to have various applicants interested in our vacancy. After careful consideration, I am sorry to inform you that you have not been chosen for the position.

We thank you again for your interest with our organization and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Leandro Otero

Recruitment Coordinator

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools"

First rejections. :( :( :(

"Hello Diana Nguyen, 

We would like to thank you for submitting your application for the Social Science position as advertised on Edjoin for Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy #7. We were very fortunate to have various applicants interested in our vacancy. After careful consideration, I am sorry to inform you that you have not been chosen for the position.

We thank you again for your interest with our organization and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Leandro Otero

Recruitment Coordinator

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools"

-------------------------------------------

"Dear Diana Nguyen, 

Thank you for your interest and application for the Social Science teaching position at Granada Hills Charter High School. We appreciate the time you took in preparing your materials and submitting your information.

Once we gathered all the information we needed to plan for our next school year, it turns out that we are no longer in need of a Social Science teacher. If circumstances change that warrant another look at the position, we will be sure to consider all applicants.

Again, thank you for your interest in our school. Best wishes to you in your search for viable employment.

Sincerely,

Karla Diamond
Human Resources Manager
Granada Hills Charter High School"

Instructional Assistant - Special Ed at University High School

After much consideration on what I was to do this next upcoming academic year of 2012-2013, I had a few options:

 

Option #1: Keep applying to Humanities (Social Science and/or English-Language Arts) positions throughout California -- concentrating on the southern California area.

Pros - If I land a full-time teaching position, I would be able to get a full-salary, benefits, and complete my BTSA.

Cons - Probability of landing a full-time teaching position is probably 10-20%.

 

Option #2: Continuing substitute teaching and private tutoring for IUSD and around the Irvine area.

Pros - Some free time if I wanted (will allow me to go to gym in the mornings, etc).

Cons - Unstable, especially cancellations, around holidays, etc.

 

Option #3: Apply to become an Instructional Assistant for Special Education at University High School (I have subbed for the special education classes for almost 2 years now and they told me they would hire me as an Instructional Assistant if I wanted the position). Will probably continue private tutoring, as well.

Pros - Able to complete BTSA as an exception. Somewhat of a stable salary.

Cons - None except that it is not a full-time teaching position or not in my content area.

 

In the end, I decided to go with Option #3 and that was exactly what I did today on Edjoin.org.

 

The position I applied for:

 

Irvine Unified for the position of Instructional Assistant - Special Ed. 2012-13

Friday, May 25th: Observed San Diego MET High School

 

So on Friday, May 25th, I went to observe my sister's school at San Diego MET High School. I became deeply interested in how the school ran, especially the advisor position, after reading the book by Dennis Littky (the founder of MET schools), The Big Picture.

 

School website: http://www.sandi.net/met

 

I mainly observed two wonderful advisors who invited me into their classrooms (gave them Thank You notes and a gift). :)

 

During that day, the students were also holding election campaigns where the candidates made their speech. I went to see how it went and all the candidates were amazing.

 

In the end, I emailed the principal regarding what I thought of my observation and the email went like this:

 

"Dear Ms. Phillips,
I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Thank you once again for the opportunity to observe your school. The experience was absolutely amazing!

 

Ms. Kallsen's class concentrated on writing -- journal writing as well as the college application essay. I thought it was a great activity having the students color-code what makes a good college essay. Ms. Kallsen even had sample essays from previous students to use. It was very enjoyable participating in the color-coding activity with the students, too.

 

Ms. Baker's senior class surprised me the most. They were well-behaved, independent, self-starters. While walking around, I initiated conversations with each student, and they were very well-mannered, on-task, and passionate about what they were working on. Her senior class only reminded me of what Dennis Littky repeatedly mentions in his book, The Big Picture, the main goal of MET schools is to instill the love of learning, and that's what Ms. Baker's class portrayed.

 

In addition, I never knew how diverse the student population was; there were so many students from different cultures and backgrounds. Also, even though it was a small student population, I was amazed at how organized and passionate they were about student body elections. I went to listen to their speeches and all the candidates were great public speakers.  My sister told me they are all great public speakers because they have a lot of practice starting their freshmen year with exhibitions.

 

What I saw during my observation would be even more amazing if I were to see it everyday. It would be wonderful for me to have an opportunity to become an advisor if any advisory positions are open for the next school year.

 

Thank you,
Diana Nguyen"

 

Sadly, I never got a response from her. :(