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Ed Balls, Britain's Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (right) speaking in London with British PM Gordon Brown, in January. (AP)
Last update - 09:46 06/02/2008
Britain to fund high school trips of understanding to Auschwitz
By The Associated Press
Tags: Holocaust, Britain, Education

Britain's minister for schools announced Monday that two pupils from every sixth form and college in the country would be able to visit the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.

Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for children, schools and families, made the announcement on the same day he took the unusual step of denouncing a hoax e-mail alleging that the government had scrapped teaching of the Holocaust in schools because it might offend Muslims.

Balls sent a statement to media and embassies around the world taking issue with the chain e-mail.
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"I want to put an end once and for all to the myth that the Holocaust is not being taught in schools or is being removed from the curriculum," Balls said.

The school trips to Poland will be funded with the help of 4.65 million pounds from the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Pupils will hear testimony from a survivor of the death camp and be encouraged to talk about their visit to other schoolchildren through a variety of activities and programs.

"Not only do young people visit the site of one of history's greatest atrocities, but they come back inspired to make a difference today," Balls said.

"The incredible work they undertake in their communities to teach others about the dangers of prejudice and discrimination bears witness to this."

With reference to the hoax, Balls added: "I am pleased to confirm that this is absolutely not the case. We are clear that there are certain non-negotiable subjects, which are protected in schools; one of those is the Holocaust. The Holocaust was one of the most horrific and profound events in world history and I want every young person to have an understanding of it."

The Holocaust, the annihilation of six million Jews by Nazi Germany, is compulsory teaching in all secondary schools in Britain for students between the ages of 11 and 14.

The subject is covered in history classes, and also in part or in whole in English, politics and citizenship studies.

It was not clear how or where the hoax e-mail originated.


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      1.   britain is the capital of antisematism! 01:07  |  miras 05/02/08
      2.   Zionist hasbara: disinformation campaign 01:13  |  Chanalau, Tova 05/02/08
      3.   Show the children Iraq, Afghanistan... 01:44  |  Maureen Ann 05/02/08
      4.   The hoax was perpetrated by Clickfool of Sussex 02:23  |  akiva (zionist) 05/02/08
      5.   Impertinent, as usual, Moron Annie 02:28  |  akiva (zionist) 05/02/08
      6.   origin daily mail 03:35  |  hms 05/02/08
      7.   What worries me is that......... 03:42  |  Deborah 05/02/08
      8.   I hope they have other genocides as well,the 20 million Indians 03:42  |  lakshmi 05/02/08
      9.   Maureen Ann is right 04:30  |  nobodysacred 05/02/08
      10.   What about Britain’s role in the Holocaust? 04:50  |  Shlomo 05/02/08
      11.   #5. Something for you to read Zionist. 04:57  |  Maureen Ann 05/02/08
      12.   Even if it isnt true 05:28  |  B. 05/02/08
      13.   response to Anne 05:32  |  B. 05/02/08
      14.   to number 3 06:11  |  miri 05/02/08
      15.   Propaganda. (End) 08:41  |  English Resident 05/02/08
      16.   lakshmi - All genocides should be taught but 09:25  |  viking 05/02/08
      17.   For Shlomo # 10 10:05  |  Clickfool 05/02/08
      18.   Ridiculous Miras # 1 10:21  |  Clickfool 05/02/08
      19.   SUFFERING OF PALESTINIANS MUST BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS 10:31  |  TrippleJump 05/02/08
      20.   Confront organised religion in schools. 11:28  |  Michael 05/02/08
      21.   #19 TrippleJump 11:30  |  Martin 05/02/08
      22.   Why dont they tell the truth in Israeli schools 11:37  |  SJ 05/02/08
      23.   #3 11:58  |  Moshe 05/02/08
      24.   #17 Clickfool 12:09  |  Moshe 05/02/08
      25.   The teaching of the holocaust can be 12:23  |  Edith 05/02/08
      26.   I think it is counterproductive, the more you market 12:27  |  Hipocrisy Monitor 05/02/08
      27.   UK should fund trips to Sderot 12:37  |  Nechama 05/02/08
      28.   WHILST YOU ARE MOANING AND GROANING 12:43  |  Nicole 05/02/08
      29.   nobodysacred.You forgot real genocide,ethnic cleansing,slavery 12:53  |  PETER SM 05/02/08
      30.   Two-faced English. Again 13:02  |  Star of David 05/02/08
      31.   MAUREEN.In that case show Indonesia/Malaya pogroms againstChinese 13:03  |  PETER SM 05/02/08
      32.   TRIPPLEJUMP.PAL ATTEMPTED WAR OF EXTERMINATION MUST BE TAUGHT 13:07  |  05/02/08
      33.   PeterSM. And also show them... 14:05  |  Maureen Ann 05/02/08
      34.   Why do we have to learn the Holocaust at all 14:06  |  Matthew Kretzmer 05/02/08
      35.   Wonderful News for Political Future Undercutting 14:16  |  The Archives 05/02/08
      36.   #25 Edith 14:16  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/02/08
      37.   #27 Nechama 14:19  |  John Smith 05/02/08
      38.   Should Holocaust lessons be compulsory in the UK? 14:30  |  Michael 05/02/08
      39.   #28 Nicole 14:31  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/02/08
      40.   To no 21 Martin 15:03  |  jpudentain 05/02/08
      41.   # 40 : Chris Linthwaite - YOU should go .... 15:05  |  your grandfather 05/02/08
      42.   # 18 Clicky...there was a study done on 15:08  |  Lynn 05/02/08
      43.   # 19 Tripple jump... Pals don`t know what 15:12  |  Lynn 05/02/08
      44.   to Chris Linthwaite 15:16  |  Nicole 05/02/08
      45.   #42 Your Grandfather 15:17  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/02/08
      46.   Israel has politicized Holocaust memorial. 15:17  |  Michael 05/02/08
      47.   #34 Maureen Ann 15:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/02/08
      48.   `teaching` kids history? which consist in the 16:03  |  bozhidar balkas 05/02/08
      49.   # 39 Michael of the UK 16:08  |  Lynn 05/02/08
      50.   32 Moslem SS were more anti-Serb than anti-semitic 16:12  |  Michael 05/02/08
      51.   Lynn 50 wrong phrase on my part. 16:32  |  Michael 05/02/08
      52.   reminder: Europe`s last genocide committed against Muslims 16:38  |  Pssd Off American 05/02/08
      53.   ..#33, ashamed to sign his name 16:56  |  nina 05/02/08
      54.   Moshe`s bent view of history # 24 17:22  |  Clickfool 05/02/08
      55.   #54 Nina 17:26  |  .. 05/02/08
      56.   #55 Clickfool 17:37  |  Paul Wood 05/02/08
      57.   # 10 Shlomo. Jewish terror groups supported the Nazis. Why? 18:27  |  Nick Ferriman 05/02/08
      58.   to the Clickfool 19:40  |  American 05/02/08
      59.   #33 Ignorance Isn`t Bliss 19:42  |  Natallie Durson 05/02/08
      60.   #53 You forgot Russian genocide in Chechnya 19:54  |  fiona 05/02/08
      61.   To b 13, regarding the lady from Bathurst 20:02  |  Jazmine 05/02/08
      62.   LAKSHMI 20:06  |  Jazmine 05/02/08
      63.   FOr Israel haters. This is about the Holocaust, not Israel 20:22  |  David 05/02/08
      64.   64. "FOr Israel haters. This is about the Holocaust, not Israel" 21:19  |  whoopsie 05/02/08
      65.   #19 I agree with Tripple Jump 100% 21:19  |  Out there in Florida 05/02/08
      66.   # 52 Michael of UK 21:28  |  Lynn 05/02/08
      67.   Everybody loves teaching Holocaust 21:33  |  especially in Europe 05/02/08
      68.   # 53 passed off American 21:53  |  Jazmine 05/02/08
      69.   # 58 Nick Ferriman 22:14  |  17 05/02/08
      70.   Pssdoff American...oh please, 22:26  |  Lynn 05/02/08
      71.   # 8 lakshmi... yes, it is all taught, Rosebud 22:34  |  Lynn 05/02/08