Initially, I primarily excused the Poles and saw them as Germans' collaborators. However, during the project I have come to understand that many Poles took part in saving the Jews during the Holocaust. In addition, I learned that their situation sometimes was difficult too. It was a war after all. Thus, today it seems I less blame them as a whole, but rather understand that in each society there were good and negative people. Although, I still know that many Poles aided the Germans, but it seems that I am less emotional about it.
2. What new insights and understandings did you gain by participating in the course? Explain.
As I wrote before, the comprehension …show more content…
Moreover, the insights that I gained through the project are meaningful for me as a person in general and especially as a future teacher. In addition, this project was a unique opportunity for me to learn also about the Polish side, which I did not take into consideration before. It seems that since we learned both sides, I have more balanced perspective about the Polish-Jewish past.
4. How can you use your new knowledge and experience in your classroom?
It seems that since I know both sides I can teach my students in a better way and I can guide them in learning about this terrible period with less hate. In addition, after learning about all those who helped through this period, I would like to enrich my students in learning more about them and from them. It seems that although the Holocaust was full of atrocities, there is a lot to learn from it without making our students afraid even to hear about it.
5. Which were the most meaningful parts of the project for …show more content…
Levi's text was a real story and he wrote it in a way that the reader trusted him that he wrote the truth. In addition, I related the most to Levi's text since my grandparents always told me the same thing that a Pole, who did almost nothing called himself a Jews' savior. However, simultaneously, the movie Run Boy Run showed me that although many Poles did not truly save Jews, there were Poles, who risked their properties and their lives to save Jews. Furthermore, the movie transferred its message in a less frightening way like other movies. Thus, I was more capable of comprehending the message. Additionally, the movie showed the actual harsh reality that this boy went through. It was a testimony through the actual