Presentation by Otto Bennemann Fellow Paul Levine (PhD)

Progressive pedagogy and Holocaust history Textbooks – Is it possible to combine the two?
This research project is about Holocaust pedagogy in general, and about textbooks specifically. In the first instance, it seeks to create a set of well-founded and sensible guidelines about how to improve, “modernize” and make progressive this vital element of what should be part of the fundamental civic education of all European (and world) nations. Editorial elements constituting that which can be usefully described as “best practices” in publications which treat Holocaust history and memory will be identified and analyzed for "editorial construction". I ask if the relevant pages do so in what will be argued is a modern, progressive and pedagogically exemplary fashion— one which helps teachers teach this subject more effectively and meaningfully in the often limited time available in the basic classroom setting. Is it possible to create widely useful editorial guidelines, useful in a variety of educational cultures.