Learning from Veterans

This may be a longish post but it made my heart feel good to read this article in our local paper today:

"Returned Servicemen were in the spotlight earlier this month when 16 year 8 students from Mandurah High School visited Mandurah RSL. The interview project started about six weeks ago when the school's year eights were selected to participate in a curriculum leadership project to commemorate local war veterans.

The project combined a study of Australians in conflict over the years with an oral history approach. After five weeks of planning and learning the students were well prepared to interview seven veterans from the Mandurah RSL about their experiences, gaining a firsthand insight into the emotions and sacrifices that go with war.

The preparations included researching the various conflicts, learning how to conduct purposeful interviews, designing appropriate questions, becoming familiar with the RSL and preparing video operations.

As well as the production of a DVD to be kept at the school, they will also be commemorating the seven veterans by presenting them with photo mounted displays using personal images of their time at war. The commemoration of those veterans will be an ongoing project into 2008 including the design and construction of a saluting dais which will be completed and presented by Anzac Day."

Well done. Congratulations to the teacher who thought of this.

Maybe EO members might be in a position to suggest the same thing to their local high school. I bet these kids, as they grow older, will have a deep understanding of what some of their grandparents went through.