Cincinnati, Ohio, March 7, 2014 – Deep in the heart of St. Ursula Academy’s mission statement is the challenge for each student to “build a better world”. Recently, thanks to a traveling exhibit From Bystander to Upstander: The Power of One During and After the Holocaust, brought to St. Ursula by Social Studies teacher David Tonnis, each student has been able to reflect upon her potential role as a “Bystander” or an “Upstander”.
“From Bystander to Upstander: The Power of One during and after the Holocaust” is a traveling exhibit created by the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education (CHHE) as a permanent offering for students, educators, and community groups. It explores the potential each of us has to make a positive difference in our communities. By studying the complexity of choices people faced during the Holocaust, one can also explore the impact these choices had on other individuals.”
St. Ursula Academy teacher David Tonnis felt this message was important to share with his students.
“By exploring the exhibit, students have the chance to investigate the role of personal choice when confronting acts of hatred. Atrocities and genocide do not and cannot happen overnight. They can only occur when people see acts of hatred being committed, whether it be violence, hate speech, or even a prejudiced joke, and choose to remain indifferent or to do nothing-- to be a bystander.”
The exhibit shows how the Holocaust was made possible, not only by perpetrators, but by the individuals, neighbors, religious communities, media, and international communities that saw what was going on and decided it was too risky to try to put a stop to it. The exhibit also shows how a few people, upstanders, saw what was happening, understood the risk it put on their own lives, and chose to do something, thereby rescuing many people.
“These lessons are vitally important to us today and students have a chance to reflect on the impact of every choice they make,” said Tonnis. “At a time where the world is connected like never before, there is such a great opportunity to easily learn about and stand up against injustice, but also a great opportunity to choose to remain indifferent.”
Student Mackenzie Dolle of Hyde Park is among the students who spent time studying the exhibit. “I gained a greater appreciation for those who were upstanders during the Holocaust and for those who had the courage to stand up against the Nazis. This traveling exhibit has raised awareness of the Holocaust and has helped spread the message of making sure that this genocide doesn't happen again.”
The exhibit will be on display in the Academy East Foyer now through March 27.
To learn more about St. Ursula Academy, please visit www.saintursula.org.
St. Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women known for academic excellence and rich tradition. St. Ursula welcomes students from more than 70 grade schools in the Greater Cincinnati area. In 2002 the Academy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of St. Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910. 87% of the class of 2013 earned college scholarships totaling more than $20-million.
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Photo caption: St. Ursula Academy students Lauren Massa of Anderson Township and Mackenzie Dolle of Hyde Park study the panel about “The Responsibility to Support” featured in the traveling exhibit “From Bystander to Upstander: The Power of One during and after the Holocaust”, on display at St. Ursula Academy until March 27