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Teaching About Trauma Without Traumatizing: Yad Vashem’s Spiral Pedagogical Approach in Light of Developmental Psychology

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Holocaust Education in Primary Schools in the Twenty-First Century

Part of the book series: The Holocaust and its Contexts ((HOLC))

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Abstract

Richler-Friedman examines whether a solution can be found to the educational dilemmas inherent in the teaching of the Holocaust in primary schools, based on studies in developmental psychology and in recent studies about the teaching of history and controversial issues.

Upon reviewing the new curriculum issued in Israel, it is recommended that the spiral approach, which allows age-appropriate development to be a constructive base for educators involved in these issues. The spiral approach, which is both an end and a means to teaching a historical subject, serves also as a path to emotional containment that emphasizes the relevance of learning a complex, controversial, and traumatic historical subject like the Holocaust.

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Notes

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  48. 48.

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  49. 49.

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  50. 50.

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  52. 52.

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  53. 53.

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  54. 54.

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  55. 55.

    Maitles, Henry, and Erin McKelvie. ‘Why does wearing a yellow bib make us different?: A case study of explaining discrimination in a west of Scotland secondary (high) school.’ Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies 8.1 (2010), pp. 245–261.

  56. 56.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International School for Holocaust Studies, Yad Vashem, and The Sal Van Gelder Center for Holocaust Research & Instruction, School of Education, Bar Ilan University, Jerusalem, Israel

    Yael Richler-Friedman

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  1. Yael Richler-Friedman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom

    Claus-Christian W. Szejnmann

  2. University of the West of Scotland, Ayr, United Kingdom

    Paula Cowan

  3. National Holocaust Centre and Museum, Nottingham, United Kingdom

    James Griffiths

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Richler-Friedman, Y. (2018). Teaching About Trauma Without Traumatizing: Yad Vashem’s Spiral Pedagogical Approach in Light of Developmental Psychology. In: Szejnmann, CC., Cowan, P., Griffiths, J. (eds) Holocaust Education in Primary Schools in the Twenty-First Century. The Holocaust and its Contexts. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73099-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73099-8_7

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-73098-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-73099-8

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