West Windsor, N.J. - Approximately 40 MCCC Education students recently engaged in a lively discourse with Dr. Paul Winkler, executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education (NJCHE). Meeting in the Holocaust Genocide Resource Center located on the MCCC campus, Dr. Winkler discussed approaches to eliminating intolerance and bullying in the classroom, using children's literature as a key tool.

Dr. Winkler was invited to campus by Assistant Professor of Education Elizabeth DeGiorgio and was joined by MCCC Professor EmeritaVera Goodkin, a Holocaust survivor.

Dr. Winkler noted that some books work specifically to foster a climate of tolerance in the classroom. Children's books such as Dr. Seuss' "The Sneetches and Other Stories" and "Sirius, The Hero Dog of 9-11" by Hank Fellows are particularly good for younger readers.

"Today, many children are bullied; many feel unsafe," Winkler, a former teacher and school administrator, said. "We are one of the most diverse states in the country, but we're also high in the number of hate crimes. Teachers need to assume responsibility for creating a community of acceptance in the classroom. It's important for children to be taught how to respect and appreciate each other's differences."

Using 9-11 as an example, Winkler noted that traumatic or controversial experiences can serve as "teachable moments" in the classroom. The NJCHE has played a major role in developing a new, comprehensive K-12 curriculum for teaching children about the events and issues surrounding the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.