Students take a harsh lesson in our history

By Steph Johnson

Last updated 05:14, Friday, 31 October 2008

TWO students from Carlisle’s Richard Rose Central Academy went to Auschwitz to learn lessons from history this week.

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Discovering the horrors: The girls will join 200 other pupils visiting the Nazi concentration camp in Poland

Sixth-formers Amanda Young and Alex Queenan joined 200 teenagers from the north east for the journey to Poland to see the largest of the Nazi concentration camps.

Central Academy history teacher Carmel Bones believes it is an experience the girls will never forget.

She said: “It will be moving and I think they will be deeply affected by it for the rest of their lives.

“It will also teach them debating skills, even the rights and wrongs of visiting places like Auschwitz; should they be going?

“It’s a worthwhile and noble pursuit but controversial as well.

“It will give them an awareness of European history and its effects.”

More than one million people died in Auschwitz and the Holocaust Education Trust arranges visits to make sure younger generations learn from its horrors.

Before the trip Alex and Amanda attended a seminar in Newcastle and spoke to a Holocaust survivor.

Ms Bones said the meeting had a big impact on the girls, who developed strong opinions on the Holocaust thanks to the preparation for the delegation.

Before she left for Auschwitz, Alex, 18, told The Cumberland News that she wanted to learn more about what happened in the concentration camp.

But she admitted she was a little apprehensive as to what she would find there.

She said: “It is going to be emotional but I get on really well with Amanda so we will be able to rely on each other if it gets a bit scary.”

When Alex and Amanda return to school after the half-term break they will start work on a presentation of their findings for the other pupils at the Richard Rose Academy.