INNISFAIL – For the first time a piece of Holocaust history from Holland is on display in Alberta schools.
A travelling exhibit on Anne Frank, the 13-year-old Jewish girl who wrote about the horrors of war and died in the Holocaust, is on view at Innisfail Middle School (IMS) from May 2 to 31.
Erin Holt, a Grade 5 teacher at the school, had the chance to visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam while on a family vacation in the fall of 2016.
The powerful experience motivated her to ensure future generations did not forget Anne Frank’s story.
"I feel that our younger generations are becoming very disconnected from the events of the Holocaust," said Holt, noting her concern over the rise of intolerance towards people of other faiths and nationalities today. “I felt as an educator I had a responsibility to try and find a way to (instill) that back into our school community."
Following study of the book The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank with her Grade 8 class in the spring of 2017, an opportunity arose for Holt to organize an exhibit and school tour on Anne Frank and her poignant story.
Included in the exhibit are several pieces of inspiring artwork by then Grade 8 student Ashley Arthur that was created as part of a class project.
"It's a pretty rare opportunity to have the Anne Frank exhibit at Innisfail Middle School,” said Holt.
"They've never had schools host the Anne Frank exhibit before in Alberta. We are the first school in the province to host it,” she added, noting a trainer from the Anne Frank House worked with several students at the end of April, teaching them and training them as interpreters and tour guides.
The exhibit, set up in the learning commons room at IMS, includes 34 panels from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, detailing the history, information and photos of Anne Frank and her family, the rise of anti-Semitism, the development of Hitler Youth and historical events such as the Night of the Broken Glass (Kristallnacht).
Holt said this unique opportunity is not just available for students.
IMS is hosting an open house on the exhibit on May 24. Members of the public are welcome to attend guided tours, conducted by 20 trained students in grades 5 through 10.
There will be tours at 8:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
"It was the ultimate opportunity for kids in our school to have hands-on experience with learning about a horrific event (in our history) but also being a part of educating their peers," said Holt.
