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St. Nicholas CES teacher Kathy Kirkley has been selected for a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Israel to learn about the Holocaust and effective ways to teach students about the dangers of intolerance and racism.
One of 42 teachers selected from across the globe, Ms. Kirkley will pack her bags for the three-week trip to participate in the program, “Teaching about the Shoah and Anti-Semitism: An International Seminar for Educators.” Participants hail from all over the world from countries such as Canada, the United States, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Mexico and Poland.
In previous years, three other York Catholic educators have been selected for this exclusive program and the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem awarded York Catholic Religious Education Coordinator Michael Way Skinner with a National Merit Award in 2006.
Ms. Kirkley learned about the program when researching the Holocaust and later spoke to a few high school teachers who had previously attended the seminar. Immediately, she began reading about the application process and criteria required for this rare opportunity.
After completing an application and submitting her resume, Ms. Kirkley was thrilled to be selected for a highly-coveted interview with five committee members at the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem in Toronto.
“The interview did not guarantee me a spot as part of the International Seminar,” said Ms. Kirkley. “It would, however, allow me a chance to tell other educators and board members what I had been doing in the area of Holocaust Education and why I felt I would be a suitable candidate to participate in the summer program.”
The day after her interview, Ms. Kirkley received a call from one of the interviewers to let her know the big news -- she had been selected for the program.
As she prepares to travel to Israel this July, Ms. Kirkley can’t wait to visit all of the historical and significant sites the program has scheduled in its itinerary.
As part of the program, educators will visit Yad Vashem, a 45-acre complex containing the Holocaust History Museum, memorial sites, the Hall of Remembrance, the Museum of Holocaust Art, outdoor commemorative sites, and an educational centre. It is the second most visited tourist site in Israel.
Throughout most of the 19 day seminar, participants will learn from expert scholars about Holocaust studies, research and pedagogy, which reflect the educational philosophy of Yad Vashem.
“I am not quite sure how and why I have been so lucky,” Ms. Kirkley confesses. “I just thank God for every opportunity that I am given to learn about the dangers of intolerance and racism. I feel as if I am a piece of a larger puzzle, which when assembled, will help to battle this critical human issue through the gift of education.”