PS 86 elementary students travel far: From the Bronx to Munich and Dachau
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- Students of Bronx PS 86 at the German Consulate
- (© germany.info)
On Friday May 8th, Consul General Dr. Freitag invited 10-12 year-old students from the Bronx Public School 86 to the German House to speak about their experience during their recent stay in Germany.
Last year, the 30 children started a pen-pal relationship with the Rudolf-Steiner-School in Munich. Eager to meet their pen-pals in person, as well as to learn more about the Holocaust after having discussed it during class, the students showed a strong interest in finally visiting Germany.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the PS 86 teachers and a German native sponsor, the trip was made possible. In late April, the group went to Munich for one week in company of a local TV station. The New York Times had reported about the trip some weeks before. (Read article )
The visit to the concentration camp memorial in Dachau was personally very moving for the students and their teachers. Related to that experience, the young guests had many questions for the Consul General and his staff, and showed profound interest in the historical background. The students emphasized that seeing this historic site with his own eyes, really complemented what they had learned in school.
The students showed a particular concern for environmental issues, and asked the Consul General how they could contribute to making their New York neighbourhood “greener.”
Meeting their German pen-pals was particularly exciting for the youngsters. The trip offered a great opportunity for the students to deepen their friendship, and to learn, that despite the geographical distance, they had a lot in common and shar many of the same challenges and interests.
The exchange definitely marked the beginning of a long-lasting friendship, and motivated the students to act as young “ambassadors” within the transatlantic relationship. The journey to Germany left an enduring impression of a modern and vibrant society the children had known only from studies and books before.
