Holocaust Education

Abstract

This chapter assesses the role of the Imperial War Museum Holocaust exhibition in providing resources for Holocaust education nationally within Britain. Due to practical constraints, many of the visiting school groups are based in and around London, which limits the impact of the exhibition. Learning resources, however, are produced for the use of schools throughout the country and reflect the perspective and approaches adopted by the institution. The following discussion explores the use of the Holocaust in education in Britain (with a focus on the National Curriculum for England and Wales) and the relationship between the museum and educational demands and expectations. With the recent inclusion of the Holocaust on the National Curriculum, this was a key focus for the Imperial War Museum during the design phase of the permanent Holocaust exhibition. The educational agenda of the museum is considered, alongside wider educational initiatives, to offer an argument on how ‘Holocaust education’ has helped shape Holocaust memory in the national museum.