Sunday, January 24, 1999
Horrors of Holocaust unveiled for high school students
Nazi cruelty baffles some young minds
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CRESTVIEW HILLS — In a small classroom at Thomas More College, some Campbell County High School students learned Saturday morning about the horrible effects of persecution.
Each sat quietly as Nancy Kersell, a professor in the literature and language department at Northern Kentucky University, handed out identification cards of people who suffered during the Holocaust.
“I think these identification cards are powerful,” she said. “These are about real people, people who died from various countries. These were Jews and non-Jews, and they had occupations. These are not soldiers.
“These are people with jobs, with families and with dreams and aspirations.”
Something personal
The identification cards were part of a lecture sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Interfaith Commission, which focused on causes and effects of the Holocaust. It was intended for students and teachers, although all community members were invited.
The Rev. Bill Neuroth, executive director of the commission, said the lecture, which is the first of a four-part series that will run through February, is about educating the public.
“We are directing a lot of this at schools,” he said. “Teachers need to educate their children about hate and violence and what it can do.”
This is the second year the commission has sponsored the series, which aims at preparing the public for Yom Hashoah, the Jewish commemoration of the Holocaust.
The commission is planning a commemoration event for April 25 at Florence Christian Church.
Amy Gee, a Campbell County High School junior who attended the lecture, said her history teacher recommended the lecture.
“I'm realizing how personal (the Holocaust) really was,” said Amy, 16, of Cold Spring.
Still not free
Ms. Kersell said students are sometimes astonished at the cruelty described in the lecture.
“They often ask, "How could human beings be so awful to each other?'” she said, adding that there is no assurance that high school students have been exposed to the stories and photographs of the Holocaust.
Ms. Kersell gave a basic description of events that led to the Holocaust and a reminder that the world is still not free from persecution.
The session ended with discussion about how the group could help themselves and others be more responsible, compassionate citizens.
“We can meet together like this and we can do what we can,” Ms. Kersell said. “You have to be willing to stand up sometimes and speak out.”
The next lecture in the series will be Saturday at Thomas More College. The basic session, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon, will focus on the historical background of concentration camps.
The advanced session, ""From Ghettos to Concentration Camps,'' runs from 1-3 p.m.
The other series are Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 at the college.
Each day the basic series begins at 9 a.m. and the advanced at 1 p.m.
The lectures are free and open to the public.
For more information, call 581-2237.
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