My college alma mater recently released their Fall 2010 edition of the alumni magazine. We were the cover story. It focuses on the ripple effect and the power of connections, but also the importance of teaching. There is a lot of negative educational press out there right now, some of it justified, but here, we are making a difference and maybe even offering a partial solution…something I’m told a recent runaway film really fails to do… thanks to my college for recognizing that.
The article that accompanies this graphic can be seen at this link. Look for it on page 10 of the browser window. It was written by Kris Dreessen and she did a fine job. (Varda lives in Israel, though, not in Canada.)
I’m working on a book about these experiences, and have recently completed a 2 DVD set of the Sept. 2009 reunion, the one that culminated in ABC World News Person of the Week honors. The conference and symposium took place over 3 1/2 days and combined liberator and survivor testimony before packed houses of students and community members.
If you are an educator inspired by what has transpired in Hudson Falls, please consider an oral history program or project in your school. For World War II or the Holocaust in particular, I don’t have to tell you that time is running short.
I’d like to say hello to all of my SUNY Geneseo friends and alumni, and the veterans and the families who are also included in the article. It was my honor to read about you, and thank you for stopping by to visit this site.
Teaching History Matters 