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After studying the materials provided by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for the Teacher's Workshop; doing additional research on the Web, and reading several books on the subject, the MDHC staff and dedicated volunteers designed exhibits that will fill the museum's Outer Gallery to complement the photos and narrative provided by the Holocaust Museum. There were an additional 10 mini-exhibits that told the basic history of the Holocaust and gave some insight into other lives that were affected by the Third Reich during World War II.
When asked why it is important to provide this additional information and education, Liz Kincheloe-Spain, the MDHC’s VISTA volunteer, said, “It is all too easy to forget the sheer magnitude of the events that led up to and surrounded the Holocaust. If we want to prevent such a horrific event from happening again, it is crucial to learn about the Holocaust in its entirety; the good with the bad."
The MonDak Heritage Center made extensive use of their new computers, scanning equipment and photo printer to produce much of the material used in the exhibits. Some “artifacts” were acquired from outside sources to give dimension to several of the exhibits, and many hours of hard labor were spent rearranging and refurbishing exhibit structures. Thanks to the staff, which includes Turner, Leann Pelvit, Debi Fox, and Kincheloe-Spain and dedicated volunteers, Debbie Bradley, Carrell Evans and Bill Forrester, the exhibits were ready in time for the Schindler Exhibition.
Other volunteers involved in the preparations include Jennie Gwynne who wrote an article for the Big Sky Airlines in flight magazine, Latitude, titled “Schindler in Sidney.” Carol Hearron, one of the Sidney High School English teachers and a presenter at the workshop in June, was a consultant to the MDHC on the Holocaust. Hearron has studied at the USHMM in Washington, D.C.
Hearron said, “Teaching the Holocaust is the most important unit I teach. With no other reading do my students feel so moved with such a lasting impression. Over the years I have discovered that as the world has become closer technologically, people seem to be more intolerant of others. We must learn to reach out to those different than ourselves, rather than shrinking away. Making the connection through Holocaust literature is the best way to introduce one of the world's most important events and encourage tolerance.”
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