But it is not only teachers who have a role to play. Werner Dreier emphasizes that a key aim of the project is to raise awareness among teacher training institutions that antisemitism is a subject that should form part of professional development for teachers in the first place. He reported that some teacher trainers the project team worked with had been skeptical at first, incorrectly believing that the topic of antisemitism was already being covered under education on the Holocaust.
“It is important that teacher training institutions understand that antisemitism is a distinct phenomenon that needs to be addressed independently. Once we sat down with teacher trainers and explored the benefits of explicitly addressing antisemitism with their teachers in training, the response was very positive. It develops competences and insight, builds confidence, and encourages self-reflection,” Werner explained.
Werner also stresses the responsibility that institutions themselves have to ensure that when teachers are confronted by antisemitism in the classroom, they know who to turn to and what steps to take internally: “This is not just about sharing knowledge on antisemitism – it is also about establishing clear processes and procedures within educational institutions.” For example, one of the recommendations encourages institutions to establish a contact person, and clear procedures for dealing with antisemitic incidents.
The recommendations, which were co-funded by the IHRA grant program, were developed in cooperation between _erinnern.at_ National Socialism and the Holocaust: Memory and Present (Austria), Lucerne Institute of History Education and Memory Cultures, University Lucerne (Switzerland) and the Office of Bavarian State Government Commissioner for Jewish Life and against Antisemitism, for Work of Remembrance and Historical Heritage (Germany). Though the recommendations were developed by institutions in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, IHRA’s Education Working Group and Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial feel that they have relevance for other countries too.
Werner Dreier emphasizes that he would like to see all degree and training programs for future teachers offer basic, extended and in-depth courses on dealing with antisemitism: “Teachers and educators should feel confident and supported in tackling antisemitism when it shows up in their classrooms. These recommendations are one step towards this”.
The recommendations were one of the pledges in support of Holocaust education made by Austria at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism in October 2021. The full research and results conducted as part of the project are available in German – the recommendations can be found in English.
