In the aftermath of Auschwitz, perhaps it’s not possible to write poems anymore. And maybe there’s simply nothing to say when standing on the Appell-Platz, the grounds where the daily inspections took place. The students seek out locations and situations at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial on the basis of photos; their assignment is to record their own thoughts in writing and to shoot a photo of their own.
A sign bearing the message “Memorial Site. Swimming, Diving, Washing Cars, Playing Ball Prohibited!” provides no answer; rather, it raises the question of how to deal with something one cannot imagine and doesn’t even want to imagine. Finally, a moderated talk encourages participants to do some serious thinking about the meta-level of this place, and calls upon them to formulate a personal statement of where they stand. This educational program is suitable for students age 16 and up, and as further study for several instructional sequences on this subject. In this way, the memorial site can be utilized as a place for extramural teaching. The methodology employed here brings out empathy and makes this location an appropriate setting for the exchange of ideas.