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 International premeditated murder... must be brought within the scope and jurisdiction of future international law. This is a major problem facing the coming world. -Raphael Lemkin, April 1945  |
INSTITUTE OVERVIEW  This multi-date residential institute introduces teachers to the intertwined issues of genocide and human rights. In the late spring participants will be sent a series of extensive text, article, and resource readings. Participants will begin the residential sessions by defining the terms, learning about the philosophical and historical antecedents, and common characteristics of genocides and human rights violations. The seminar will then turn toward exploring the historical, political, sociological/anthropological, and contemporary dimensions of genocide and human rights by focusing on the causes, courses and consequences of the events. The case studies include: Armenia, the Holocaust, Ukrainian famine-genocide, Cambodian, Cyprus, El Salvador, Iraq, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan genocidal episodes. Other examples that will be integrated and considered include the Irish famine, the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and the current status of human rights throughout the world.The institute will also include a series of sessions on how to approach these subjects in the classroom, from the elementary to the high school level. Significant attention will be devoted to the complex methodological issues underlying the presentation of genocide in the classroom including the selection of teaching materials (secondary readings, primary sources, and documentary and entertainment films). Then participants will undertake the sharing of lesson plans developed as a part of the institute’s program before concluding with a series of final sessions and considerations on the future prevention of genocide and an activist engagement with the subject. As an on-going part of the Institute and its mission past participants and faculty will continue to function as a cohort after the institute is over by sharing completed lesson plans, developing additional curricular materials and undertaking educational and public outreach programming. The Institute is open to any teacher—elementary through high school—who is currently employed in a full-time teaching position. Advanced certification candidates may apply after discussing their status and intent with the Institute Director. Such candidates will be accepted on a space-available basis. Throughout the Institute attention will be devoted to the peculiar needs and demands of teachers at the various levels; however, the content that will be provided is directed at educating the teacher in as much detail as possible. Participants are able to register for academic or professional development credit. The program is offered as an undergraduate and graduate course or as a continuing professional development institute, which will be certified to the Illinois State Board of Education. Non-Illinois teachers should check with their state office to ensure that Illinois CPDUs will be transferable. All forms of credit or certification require that the participant complete the lesson plans required as a participant in the Institute. Those who register for graduate credit will have to submit an additional research project. | |
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© 2006 Northern Illinois University