As the UK commences four years of commemorations of the centenary of World War 1, the Martin Luther King Peace Committee has released resources to help schoolteachers and church leaders mark the December 1914 Christmas Truces as part of their World War 1 teaching. The resources are intended to be used in the half terms before Christmases from 2014 until 2017. The December 1914 Christmas Truces, when British, French and German soldiers stopped fighting to celebrate Christmas, exchange gifts, sing carols, and even play football, are one of the most extraordinary episodes in modern military history. These were not isolated incidents. Following weeks of spasmodic fraternisation by men unconvinced by war propaganda, the Christmas Truces occurred right down the front from the North Sea to Switzerland. Made possible by shared traditions of Christian celebration, they were a hopeful moment of recognition of common humanity and a (brief) rejection of the terrible violence of industrialised war pursued by rulers in a deadly game of global imperial competition for territories and resources. They were quashed by orders backed by threats, and by replacing troops with men ‘untainted’ by the Truces. The truces are worth teaching about because they are simply so remarkable and evocative in themselves. Ordinary men recognising their common humanity infuriated high commands by temporarily stopping the industrialised slaughter of the trenches. However at a time when revisionist historians and politicians are offering retro-chic defences of the First World War as somehow necessary or even heroic, the truces can also teach an important message that may otherwise be overlooked in the centennial commemorations. The schools pack contains lesson plans, hand-outs, worksheets and PowerPoint slideshows for a range of subjects including history, English/literacy, geography, modern languages, RE/PSE, art, PE and even cookery. It also contains complete outlines and materials for Christmas Truces-themed assemblies and school carol services. Co-designed with teachers, they are aimed primarily at Key Stage 2 and 3, but can be adapted for younger children and older students. The church leaders pack contains ideas for peace liturgies, Sunday School activities, and carol services. For both packs, the Christmas order of service weaves the story of the Truces in with the traditional narrative of the nativity as presented in an abridged version of the nine lessons and carols format, giving an evocative angle on the angels’ song of ‘on earth peace, good will toward men.’ Please draw these to the attention of school-teachers and church leaders in your communities. All resources can be downloaded for free at mlkpc.org FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Nick Megoran at [email protected] or 0191 222 6450
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 12:11:34 +0000
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