Anne’s diary marks 50th anniversary
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Anne’s diary marks 50th anniversary
https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/annes-diary-marks-50th-anniversary
The book remains, for many children, their first awareness of the Holocaust. This week saw a memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral for Anne and other genocide victims.
On May 4, the Anne Frank Educational Trust opens a major exhibition at the RAF Museum in Hendon, north London. And on May 6, the BBC is to screen the first feature-length documentary of Anne Frank’s life.
Her diary occupies a central role in schools. It has an obvious place in history lessons: the Second World War is prescribed at key stage three (age 11-14) of the national curriculum.
But Gillian Walnes, executive director of the Anne Frank Educational Trust, says the book has more to offer than a straight documentary insight. She helps to provide material for teachers across the arts curriculum: religious education and English in particular.
The diary makes a regular appearance on the lists of set texts for GCSE English. Robert Davison is using the work as a key stage 4 course book at Winchmore School in North London. “As a literary work it stands on its own. Considering that it’s written by a girl of 13-14, the literary style is incredible.”
He adds that the diary is particularly important as a human insight into an otherwise incomprehensible level of destruction. “You can’t take the idea of six million in; but you can fall in love with this one child. This is a book every child ought to read.”
The exhibition at Hendon is free, but there is a charge for entry to the RAF Museum which can be contacted on 0181 200 1763. On May 8, VE day, the museum will stage a specially commissioned play Peace and the Future. A limited number of tickets is available from the Anne Frank Educational Trust, tel 0181 950 6476. Anne Frank Remembered will be screened on BBC 2 at 8.55pm on May 6.
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