Thursday Anne Frank exhibit at Tri-Valley High School is first and only of its kind in Ohio

Steph West

DRESDEN − The Anne Frank Exhibit will be open for the community to tour from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at Tri-Valley High School.The exhibit is a collaboration between the University of South Carolina and the Anne Frank House in the Netherlands and has been in approximately 23 states. This stop is its first visit to Ohio and it won’t be back again until next year at Capital University.“I was contacted back in September by my friend Donna Tarney, who now works with the University of South Carolina,” said Tri-Valley U.S. History teacher Brad Sims, who has been with the school for 25 years. “We met about 13 years prior at the Memorial Library Conference in New York City. That conference was started by Holocaust survivor Olga Lengyel and is now called TOLI.”

The Anne Frank Exhibit will be open to the community from 5 to 8 p.m. May 9 at Tri-Valley High School. The exhibit won’t be back to Ohio again until next year at Capital University.
The Anne Frank Exhibit will be open to the community from 5 to 8 p.m. May 9 at Tri-Valley High School. The exhibit won’t be back to Ohio again until next year at Capital University.

Sims said he’s hoping community tour brings people together and helps have a more empathetic eye towards others.“During the Holocaust, too many people were bystanders and allowed things to continue when they didn't necessarily agree with government/civic actions,” said Sims. “Today, we have people struggling all over the world and people don't get involved because it doesn't impact them directly. We address this in my Holocaust class using the Universe of Obligation exercise. At what point does something happen that you feel the impact for.“My goal is that people visiting the exhibit will realize these were real people struggling through an event that could have been different if individuals would have been more involved. They could then use what they learned to help those people today that are struggling through social injustices.”Sims said it’s a lesson he teaches throughout his courses.“I think it is important that my students learn about historical events in ways more than just reading about them or hearing in a lecture,” said Sims. “If the students are able to apply what we have discussed in class with real people and sites then they are more likely to remember what they have learned.”Sims has been accepted to and participated in nine national/international conferences focusing on World War II, the Holocaust, and Korean War.“These experiences provide educational opportunities that I can bring back to the classroom to help students at Tri-Valley better understand these events,” he said. “I hope my students learn that we can be different and disagree on things, but we can still treat the person with respect. If we can learn to agree to disagree on issues and accept people with tolerance this world would be a whole lot better off.”Those attending this evening can enter through the cafetorium where student docents will meet them and help organize tours.Tour groups will typically be around 25 people and should start every 10 to 15 minutes.

Fourteen Tri-Valley High School students were trained as docents for the Anne Frank Exhibit. They have been giving tours to several area schools since its arrival in April, like the one shown here.
Fourteen Tri-Valley High School students were trained as docents for the Anne Frank Exhibit. They have been giving tours to several area schools since its arrival in April, like the one shown here.

Sims said Tarney assists in the scheduling of the exhibit’s touring dates and they wanted it to be in Ohio.The exhibit arrived at Tri-Valley on April 19 for assembly and student docent training. Fourteen high school students trained April 22 and 23 to lead tours.“The students that volunteered to work as docents have embraced this opportunity and have taken it very seriously,” said Sims. “It is amazing to watch the individuals lead tours and interact with fellow students and adults in a way I don't always see them in the classroom.”Sims said he’s also impressed with how the faculty has embraced the exhibit, allowing students to miss classes for training, as well as scheduling for their classes to visit the exhibit.“Overall, we have had 41 high school, middle school classes, and elementary classes scheduled for the exhibit,” said Sims.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Anne Frank exhibit Thursday at Tri-Valley High School is first in Ohio

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