The Vice Chancellor, staff and students of the University of Worcester have called for an end to anti-Semitism and racism and for renewed commitment to education, understanding and unity on this Holocaust Memorial Day 2021.
Speaking at the virtual Worcestershire event to remember the victims of the Holocaust, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green CBE, drew attention to the fact that many of the participants at the recent anti-democracy riot at the Capitol in Washington DC wore clothing with anti-Semitic slogans. Professor Green said: “Anti-Semitism, unfortunately, is alive in the world today, and we need to do everything that we can, everything humanly possible to end anti-Semitism and racism in any shape and form.”
Watch Professor Green's full speech
The University of Worcester has a long-held commitment to promoting equality, diversity, inclusion and community cohesion.
Founded shortly after the end of World War II to ‘win the peace through education’, the University has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the country’s best educators of teachers.
Rebecca Davidge, Senior Lecturer in Religious Education PGCE, taught children about the Holocaust in her role as an RE teacher in secondary schools for 20 years. Now she is educating the next generation of teachers and has developed a nationally noted programme on Holocaust Education. Ms Davidge said: “The research shows us that you don’t need to teach the Holocaust to school children to teach them that racism and genocide are wrong, because they already know that. But what you do need to show them is how it happened, and how hatred and intolerance have led to further genocides since, and could do so again if we do not work at developing our understanding and respect for each other as people.”
Ms Davidge has worked collaboratively with external partners such as the Centre for Holocaust Education, as well as with colleagues from other academic disciplines within the University, to ensure the Holocaust Education programme on offer at Worcester is as rich and varied as possible.
Some years ago, the University forged a close working partnership with Holocaust survivor, campaigner and educator Mindu Hornick MBE.
“I first met Mindu in 2009 when I was still teaching in school,” Ms Davidge said. “She hadn’t spoken in front of a class before, but the power of her story was incredible. She came back to visit us every year, and when I moved into higher education I asked Mindu to join classes with me so that she could share her story with our trainee teachers”
In 2018 Mindu received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Worcester and her inspiring, consistent work for democracy and human rights is now carried forward by the University’s teaching graduates in schools across the country.
“We want our students, and through them the future generations they will go on to teach and inspire, to develop a critical mindset, to be able to judge the events of history for themselves, and in this way, to help to foster tolerance, respect and understanding throughout society,” Ms Davidge said.
Her sentiments are echoed by the teaching students on her course.
“Teaching Holocaust Education allows the pupils we are working with to not only understand history and facts, but to build empathy and sympathy,” said Jasmine Hawkins. “We live in an ever-changing world. Although this is an emotive and complex topic, it allows pupils to look at the consequences of extreme ideologies and begin to establish their own moral code.”
Jim Priestley, also a trainee teacher at Worcester, added: “Holocaust Education is not only valuable for reflecting on the past but for inspiring students to create a better future.”
Professor Green said it was important that universities, schools and society more widely came together to educate, to understand and to overcome all prejudices.
“We need to strengthen our democratic institutions in society and be vigilant for democracy,” he said. “Education is a recipe for tackling racism. Together we can and must build a just, strong, inclusive society. This is the way to secure the right of every person to life, liberty and the pursuit of human happiness.”