Assembly provided students a firsthand account about the ramifications of societal prejudice
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (April 26, 2019) – Mark Schonwetter was just 5 years old when the rise of the Nazi party forced him and his family out of their home and into hiding in war-torn Poland. Their hiding places included an attic, the forest, and even a pigsty. Their nourishment came from scraps of bread, berries, wild mushrooms and stream water.
Schonwetter spoke to a group of sixth-graders at Albert Leonard Middle School today. Also present were Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Magda Parvey and school board member Julia Ochs. Schonwetter told the captive audience that because his family is Jewish, they risked death if captured.
“We were among the survivors. I’m speaking to you as someone who lived through this,” said Schonwetter. “Under Hitler’s rule, 6 million Jews were killed and 5 million non-Jews were also killed. I hope something like this will never happen to you or your children.”
Schonwetter’s daughter, Ann Arnold, accompanied him at the assembly. Arnold recounted her family’s dramatic story in her book Together: A Journey for Survival. While students have read about the Holocaust as part of the school’s curriculum, principal John Barnes knew more had to be done to raise students’ awareness after swastika etchings were found in the building.
“If rather than standing by, bystanders turned into ‘upstanders’ and stood up for what is right, we wouldn’t have the problems we have in this world and some of what we have been experiencing in our school this year.” Barnes told the students following the presentation. “Think of all the people whose lives were cut short because of hatred and choose to be a generation of kindness, acceptance and inclusion.”
“My hope is that whoever drew a swastika didn’t understand what it really meant,” Arnold said. “Hitler turned the swastika, which was once a symbol of peace, into a symbol of hate. It’s important that you understand that when you use that symbol, your actions hurt people.”
It was an impactful message for the students present.
“Hatred is not the right way to go,” said Makhi Jackson. “It’s sad that some people got killed and others had to struggle to stay alive.”
“It was important for us to hear this so things like the Holocaust don’t happen again, and so people know that putting swastikas around the school isn’t funny and really affects people,” added Andrea Dominguez.
About the City School District of New Rochelle
With nearly 11,000 students in 10 schools, the City School District of New Rochelle, through an active partnership amongst community, parents, staff and students, provides a high-quality and challenging education for every child, in a safe, nurturing environment that embraces rich diversity and drives success.
