Annual Conference 2002: Prague, Czech Republic

Rich and Varied Diversity – The Learning and Teaching about Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities in Europe

The EUROCLIO Annual Professional Development Conference of 2002 took place in Prague from 12 till 17 March. It was hosted by the History Teachers´ Association of the Czech Republic under the auspices of the Minister of Education of the Czech Republic Mr. Eduard Zeman. This years conference topic was 'Rich and Varied Diversity – The Learning and Teaching about Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities in Europe'. Prague was a very appropriate place for such theme as the Czech Republic is an example of a past and present multicultural country. It goes without saying that this theme is extremely relevant and important in every European country today, as we see controversies and clashes between different groups in society in every country and sometimes controversies between countries as well. With more than 140 participants from 39 countries traveling to Prague it was a great success.
The conference offered the participants lectures about the history and present situation of Czechs, Germans, Jews, Roma, Slovaks and Sinti in Prague and the Czech Republic. Participants also joined practical workshops on the learning and teaching about ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, by specialists and professors from the Czech Republic and various other European countries. Multilateral discussion groups were organized on the topics' challenges for history education. There was on side education in the former Jewish Ghetto of Theresienstadt and the Jewish Quarter in Prague and the Czech Radio offered a performance of the Children Opera Brundibar, which was performed many times in the Ghetto of Theresienstadt. This was one of the highlights of the week, but all the other elements of the conference, like the interactive workshops, were evaluated positively as well!