Vocation Visiter: Higher Calling Conversation

Dr. Beate Hofmann, a professor of Christian education at the University of Applied Sciences, came all the way from Nuremberg, Germany. She spoke about some experiences that occurred in Germany during World War II. I attended her lecture and also heard her speak in my Christian Theology class. The lecture, titled "The Political Dimension of Christian Faith: Eye-Opening Experiences During the Hitler Regime in Germany," was empowering because it revealed the roles women had back at that time. They had the stereotypical maternal roles of tending to children and home, while men worked.
During the totalitarian regime, Adolph Hitler tried to spread the Aryan race (European without Jewish descent, or more familiarly, blonde hair and blue eyes). He encouraged an increase in birthrate, for if there were more people to reproduce, the more chances of increasing the "perfect" race. He gave women what was called a Mother's Cross. To receive this cross, a mother had to bear 4 or more children. For every child exceeding the fourth (i.e. fifth, sixth, seventh...etc., child), the mother received another cross. Women were supposed to wear these crosses in public so people could congratulate her for contributing to an increase in the Aryan poplulation.
Going back to the Holocaust and how it relates to education, we have to realize that Hitler was an extremist, completely turned around in his views. The damage he caused is irreversible, but can be prevented through the power of communication in today's society. We have to inform people that hate, discrimination, subjugation, and murder are not justifiable and, once again, irreversible. It is scary that someone like Hitler had the power and support to cause so much destruction. Of course, he gained power solely through propaganda.
It is our job as teachers to make sure discrimination/prejudice and other such subjugation does not take place in our schools. If we show how destructive hate can be, and then promote kindness in our classroom, students will emulate the niceties we establish in our classroom. It is important to exhibit a genuine caring and love for students, encouraging them to accept differences and be kind to everyone, for we are all different. We cannot have another incident such as the Holocaust happen again. Instead, we have to be sure spread the message and show the tragic results of a that time period when a power-hungry, prejudiced person was in power.