News

The Max M. Kaplan Summer Institute for Educators at Holocaust Museum Houston 5th-9th July was organised for educators of all levels, who have specific interest and some experience in teaching about the Holocaust. Two educators from Lithuania had a great possibility to attend the Max M. Kaplan Summer Institute. Both participants were recommended by the USA embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania.

On 29-30 April 2010 the International Comission Secretariat and Kedainiai Regional Museum organised the seminar “Local cultural and historic heritage in the process of education”. The teachers from 18 different Lithuanian schools where TEC are established attended this seminar. The aim of this seminar was to update the teachers on the latest Secretariat actions, to introduce some new educational programs proposed by Kedainiai Regional Museum, to visit some historically important places and get acquainted with the methodology of the lesson at historical place- non- classroom environment.

The center, founded in Klaipėda district Lapiai basic school, is a 67 TEC member of the network. A new Tolerance Education Center with a help of the International Commission‘s Secretariat as all Tolerance educations centers will implement Teaching about the Crimes of Totalitarian Regimes, Prevention of Crimes against Humanity and Tolerance Education Programme.

In his 80 year passed away professor Julius Šmulkštys, the member of The International Commission for the Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania

The International Academy on "Remembrance and Human Rights" took place in Berlin from March 14-19, 2010. For the second time the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future organized this academy for multipliers in educational work.

Ronaldas Racinskas, Executive Director of the International Historical Commission, participated at the ICHEIC international forum which was organized by Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority, on 14th – 18th of February. Holocaust education program coordinators and experts from all over Europe participated in this forum. R. Racinskas made a presentation about the history curriculum development and preparation of school textbooks in Lithuania and how Holocaust topic is reflected in these textbooks.

Under the initiative of the International Historical Commission 24 Lithuanian schools of various Lithuanian cities and regions commemorated the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The importance of the day was highlighted with the lessons, performances also film reviews presented by teachers. The Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum, the Lithuanian Jewish Community also took part in the commemoration. Here the International Holocaust Remembrance Day’s commemoration was organized together with the International Historical Commission.

On the day of Sausio 13 which is called the Freedom Defenders Day (January 13), the memory candles were lighted on the windows of 734 Lithuanian schools as well as in the Lithuanian Parliament Seimas, in the Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the Diplomatic Representations of Lithuania and in the windows of Lithuanians living abroad. All these candles where lightened exactly at 8 am and for ten minutes let people feel the consolidation of Lithuanian nation that was especially strong on the Day of Sausio 13, 1991. The flames reminded us the tragic days when the Lithuanian society that was united by strong values and ideas that helped to defend its independence. The International Historical Commission is thankful to each person and organization that helped to organize this civic action of the Freedom Defenders Day called “The Memory is live, because it proclaims”.

On November 22-25 in Vienna the third seminar of the international project “The Violations of the Human Rights” took place. Mrs. Ingrida Vilkienė, the Coordinator for Education projects of the International Historical Commission participated in this seminar that closed the project. She demonstrated the results of the project “The violation of the human rights before the massive killings. The role of the bystanders”. The idea of the project was born in the first seminar of the project “the Violations of the Human Rights”. Educators and teachers from many European countries came to participate in this last seminar. Together with the International Historical Commission they were implementing the international projects of the first seminar that was related to the violations of the human rights.

On November 16, the International Day for Tolerance was marked with the civic action “Tolerance for the World” by about 346 Lithuanian schools. During this campaign the pupils were shaping the letter T in many ways and were discussing the importance of the day as well as were choosing the most popular synonym of the word tolerance. Comparing action to last year, more than 100 schools showed the wish to participate in this project. According to Mr. Ronaldas Račinskas, the Executive Director of the of International Historical Commission, such a growing interest shows the attraction for the schools communities of marking the International Day for Tolerance and is an effective method to educate pupils about the tolerance. Here you could see the moments of the action.