Museum of Tolerance

[Babette]

One of my favorite novels to read when I teach 6th grade is NUMBER THE STARS by Lois Lowry. It is a great story about best friends, one Jewish and one not, who live in Denmark during WWII. The non-Jewish family risks their lives to help many people, including the best friend's family, escape to Sweden. It is a great story about friendship, tolerance and personal challenges people face when in extreme situations. The students get an idea about the effects of the atrocities of WWII, but the book does not go into detail. They see things through the eyes of a 12-year-old girl.

I think the Museum of Tolerance is an appropriate field trip for sixth graders. It is pretty intense. Those who are ready for it will understand and find meaningful connections. Those who aren't ready will be exposed and later in life they will be able to connect back to the things they saw. It will encourage conversation and awareness.

The bus ride, now that is a whole new test of one's tolerance.

[Kevy Baby]

As much as I wouldn't want to spend two hour-long trips in a bus with sixth graders, I would be curious to know what (if any) difference there is between the ride TO the museum and the ride back.

[tracilicious]

That's a great summary, LV, thanks. I've not been to the museum, but I read Number the Stars in fourth grade and saw a holocaust survivor speak in the seventh. I think an eleven year old can probably handle it. I don't really see the point of such young exposure, but then I don't have an eleven year old. I think that you are right in going with him. Then you know exactly what he saw and can help him process it.

[MouseWife]

GD~ That is what I was thinking myself...

libraryvixen~ Oh, see, just reading your summary about the museum had me all choked up. I hope that I can handle it. When they sing 'The Star Spangled Banner' it makes me emotional.

Thank you so much for the summary, I think I will print it up to help me make sure what I don't want to miss and what to be prepared for.

Babette~ Seriously, I don't know if I can tolerate that ride...I may just suck it up and drive....and, I agree about those getting it and those not. If he doesn't, he can come back again and at least know what to expect. And, I think I need to read that book myself.

Kevy Baby, ooo, I live way further than that...I think it will be at least a three hour drive. Include with the the preparing to get on the bus and then the gathering up the kids after. I think the bus ride home will be quite somber. If it isn't I think I'm gonna pop open a can of 'Whup @$$' on them.

tracilicious~ That was my first {and still to a large degree} feeling. I asked why and if they were even studying it. I don't really compare reading the book to going to the museum, the book seems quite age appropriate. So, this is why I am going.

I know my son had a very difficult time with things when his grandmother passed away when he was 10.

Everyones responses have really helped me to feel comfortable with him going, as long as I go with him.

I will print up your summary and go to the website and see what else I should print up.

Any other ideas will be greatly appreciated, I think if we go we won't go again for some time.

And, I understand going to Disneyland after and seeing happy people. I know this is not really comparable but after I saw 'Titanic', I was really drained. All of that was so real and knowing it really happened just got to me. On the way home from the theater I looked out the window {I wasn't driving} at the people and life going on and thought about those who died. What they went through. See, this may be harder on me......

Do they stock Kleenex?

[tracilicious]

A six hour roundtrip drive to see a holocaust museum when they aren't even studying it? Sounds a bit nuts (of the teachers) to me. Can't they just watch Schindler's List?

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

A six hour roundtrip drive to see a holocaust museum when they aren't even studying it? Sounds a bit nuts (of the teachers) to me. Can't they just watch Schindler's List?

They are lightly studying it. They read the book 'Number the Stars'. That's it.

I know that my sons own teacher was not for it. But, he also has back problems and that combined with the whole out of town trip is too much.

Ya know, I think that for their age that perhaps a trip to Riley's Farm where it is early Americana would be more age appropriate.

I really think they want to 'break' these kids. I understand private schools may have studied this more indepth. We haven't.

Ugh, to see 'six hour bus ride' in print was a shock to my system.

[Prudence]

I don't have kids yet, and remembering back to sixth grade is sometimes a stretch, but I think we could have handled that sort of trip without major problems. I do think the experience will be enhanced if you talk with your son about the experience, but that's true of most educational field trips.

Actually, I think it's the perfect age to go. They're old enough to some sense that history isn't all Washington Crossing the Delaware and "Mr. Watson, come here, I need you." They're either headed for jr. high or already in middle school - which means that before too long the "cooler than you" fences will be too fortified to allow any impact. That doesn't mean it will be easy or fun, but learning that not everything is easy or fun in a controlled setting is a valuable lesson itself.

Oh, and when I was in sixth grade we did the whole "Pioneer Farms" thing. What a snoozer that was. We had to do this whole unit in preparation of making pioneer toys and crafts and crap. We were way too old to be making wooden spoon dolls. It would have been great for 4th graders, maybe.

[MouseWife]

I think you are right about getting them before that attitude. But, sadly, I guess I am thinking of how those who have that attitude already might ruin the experience for the others.

You didn't like the 'Pioneer Farms'? I'll have to check your link but I haven't been to Riley Farms, either, just their webpage. I'd personally love to do that. Ha ha, that would be a crazy LoT meet, get as many as possible to participate in the war activity. Or the wagon trek? Okay, I'd pass on the wagon trek, you don't have any horses, YOU have to pull the wagon! Now, I KNOW they had horses back in the day....

I will work with my son {with the help of everyone here and their input } and if I have to I will seperate us from the groups {I am assuming it will be like any other trip where we have groups of children to monitor} so that mine can experience it freely without any comments from the 'cooler than you' kids.

I do appreciate everyones opinions and advice! Keep it coming!

The trip is in June so I have time to do my homework.

[MouseWife]

Update:

So, I've been searching the MOT website for worksheets and help for parents/teachers, buying books and asking the older kids to discuss the subject with the Boy when they are able. Always taking opportunies. Also, I gave him another book to read, I think it is called 'Jacobs Rescue'.

I had opportunity to go in to the school office with another mom and there is the principal. So I ask her if I can drive up and take my son home with me? Sure, no problem, he is your kid. {my sentiments exactly} Then I ask her how this trip came about if they aren't studying the subject? She said 'Oh yes, they are. They read that book about 'Stars'.' I said 'Number The Stars? Yes, but that is it.'

So she goes on to assure me that they are being prepared and they are discussing intolerance in class often. I say 'Intolerance and The Holocaust are two very different things.' She assures me that we have situations going on today {Dafur} and I probably rolled my eyes and said 'Well, this is why I want to go with my son'. She said it was also up to the parents to discuss the matter with the kids and I said that I indeed was.

So. The next thing I hear is that my son says they discussed the Holocaust in class that day {after I spoke with her}. I had to laugh. Because...it turns out that while they are going to the MOT they are NOT doing the Holocaust part. The person they booked the trip with said they are too young. It is at least for 7th graders.

So, I tell this to my sons teacher who gave me a look like 'Really?' Talk about communication between the teachers!! The teacher in charge, it was her event, she only invited the other students, I think, to help bring down the costs but it didn't.

So. I was hit with 'Do I really want to go on this bus for all of that time on two seperate 2 1/2 hour tours with these kids??? With these adults???' I decided yes because from what I've seen, I really need to be there to see what my son is being taught.

AND I realized that thier trip is on 'D-Day'. I wonder if they'll touch upon that?

Thanks you guys for all of your help. While they won't be doing it this time around, we will. If I had someone to drive up with I wouldn't ride the bus and I would hang out longer up in L.A. but alas I can't. So, just the two tours and a bunch of kids.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I really wish that there were more parents who took such an active interest in what their children were being taught. Hats off to you, MouseWife.