This week, Bede has marked 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz with assemblies, tutor reflections and Personal Development activities on the Holocaust Memorial theme of ‘A Better Future’.
On Holocaust Memorial Day, four Sixth Form students spoke about their recent visit to Auschwitz as representatives of the Lesson from Auschwitz Project. They have a very important role as witnesses to the atrocities there, and they shared what had affected them most. All our students listened with respect and sensitivity, and many were deeply moved by stories of children – their age and younger – who lost their lives simply because they were different in some way: by religion, heritage or ability. We are grateful to our Sixth Form students for their leadership on this crucial issue, and to our wider community for their maturity and humanity in response.
The rest of the week was dedicated to looking at how such atrocities can occur. Students studied the ‘stages to genocide’ concept and made their own decisions about when the cycle can be stopped – and who must stop it. Their answers were intelligent and inspiring and showed that they see the common humanity in us all and want to be part of a better future.
We have to stop this from what we know now. We know the Holocaust happened – that should make us never let it happen again.
We must try to stop this from the start. Stop judging people for the little things – we are all different somehow.
