"We must strive for enduring learning."
Today's Itinerary and Activities
Today we began considering how to end a campaign that has consequences and is a turning point in war.
We began our day just up the road from the Moulin Morin at the Sully Churchyard, which houses one Commonwealth war grave. While there, Lee posed a few Powerful Questions for us to think about throughout the day. He also shared with us the story of J.P. Noble, the Commonwealth soldier commemorated in this French churchyard.
After paying our respect to Noble, we drove to Falaise through the Canadian Second World War battlefield, which consists of a series of ridges that have become known as the Stairway to Hell. While in Falaise, we had the opportunity to visit William the Conqueror's castle (the Château de Falaise) and the Mémorial des civils dans la guerre (Civilians in Wartime Memorial).
Our next stop of the day was the Urville-Langannerie Polish War Cemetery. While there, we reflected on how the Polish commemorate their war dead. Before leaving the cemetery, Lynzee facilitated a seminar on a topic that we had started discussing earlier in the day: how to create a safe learning environment.
After leaving the Polish cemetery, we drove to Rocquancourt, a French village that was at the centre of Operation Totalize and consequently, was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War. Rocquancourt's mayor, Denis Viel, and the townspeople welcomed us warmly and invited us to join them for apéritifs. We left Rocquancourt two hours later with a deeper appreciation for and understanding of French culture and French civilians' wartime experiences.
When we returned to the Moulin Morin, we packed our suitcases in preparation for our departure tomorrow.
We began our day just up the road from the Moulin Morin at the Sully Churchyard, which houses one Commonwealth war grave. While there, Lee posed a few Powerful Questions for us to think about throughout the day. He also shared with us the story of J.P. Noble, the Commonwealth soldier commemorated in this French churchyard.
After paying our respect to Noble, we drove to Falaise through the Canadian Second World War battlefield, which consists of a series of ridges that have become known as the Stairway to Hell. While in Falaise, we had the opportunity to visit William the Conqueror's castle (the Château de Falaise) and the Mémorial des civils dans la guerre (Civilians in Wartime Memorial).
Our next stop of the day was the Urville-Langannerie Polish War Cemetery. While there, we reflected on how the Polish commemorate their war dead. Before leaving the cemetery, Lynzee facilitated a seminar on a topic that we had started discussing earlier in the day: how to create a safe learning environment.
After leaving the Polish cemetery, we drove to Rocquancourt, a French village that was at the centre of Operation Totalize and consequently, was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War. Rocquancourt's mayor, Denis Viel, and the townspeople welcomed us warmly and invited us to join them for apéritifs. We left Rocquancourt two hours later with a deeper appreciation for and understanding of French culture and French civilians' wartime experiences.
When we returned to the Moulin Morin, we packed our suitcases in preparation for our departure tomorrow.
A Headstone With Many Questions
When we arrived at Sully Churchyard, Lee drew our attention to a Commonwealth war grave inscribed with the name J. P. Noble. He then posed the two Powerful Questions below and gave us a few minutes to explore the churchyard.
The sole Commonwealth war grave in Sully Churchyard commemorates Captain John Padmore Noble, a British Forward Observation Officer (FOO) and gunner who fought with the Royal Horse Artillery during the Second World War. In August 1944, while helping the 50th British Division close the Falaise Gap with the Americans, Noble drove his artillery onto the Sully bridge where his tank was destroyed by German machine gun fire. Noble's FOO tank fell into the river and in a successful effort to save his comrades, Noble himself died.
After Lee presented the brief biographical sketch of Captain Noble, he posed three more Powerful Questions:
Our visit to Captain Noble's grave left us with many questions, all of which will require further research.
- What connections can we make when we look beyond the Canadian story?
- What connections do we make when we consider our Allies and the people of France?
The sole Commonwealth war grave in Sully Churchyard commemorates Captain John Padmore Noble, a British Forward Observation Officer (FOO) and gunner who fought with the Royal Horse Artillery during the Second World War. In August 1944, while helping the 50th British Division close the Falaise Gap with the Americans, Noble drove his artillery onto the Sully bridge where his tank was destroyed by German machine gun fire. Noble's FOO tank fell into the river and in a successful effort to save his comrades, Noble himself died.
After Lee presented the brief biographical sketch of Captain Noble, he posed three more Powerful Questions:
- Does Noble's death and burial here indicate problems in communications between armies?
- When was Noble awarded a Military Cross, because the medal cannot be awarded posthumously?
- Why does Noble's grave face a different direction than the other graves in the churchyard?
Our visit to Captain Noble's grave left us with many questions, all of which will require further research.
The Significance of Falaise to Canada's Second World War Experiences
Falaise was significant at the time because it allowed for control of major roads and railways. The town is still significant today because it sheds light on the experiences of soldiers that are becoming more and more relevant to us in the present.
In August/September of 1944, the question of whether Canada needed to force the home defence conscripts to serve overseas was pressing. This was much like the One Hundred Day Campaign in that the end of the war was in sight. By summer 1944, Canadians on the home front knew the full extent of the Nazi death camps and they knew that many European cities and towns were on the brink of starvation. Canadians felt Canada could not stop, and could not give Canadian soldiers a break a break. There is also overwhelming evidence that by fall 1944, Canadian soldiers were well aware of the Nazi actions - post battle interviews indicate that soldiers were motivated not by King and Country but by stopping the Nazis. Nevertheless, by this time, there was an epidemic of battle exhaustion.
Reference: Kate Charette, “Day 13: Falaise,” War and the Canadian Experience in France and Flanders, last accessed August 22, 2017, franceandflanders2016.weebly.com/day-13.html.com.
In August/September of 1944, the question of whether Canada needed to force the home defence conscripts to serve overseas was pressing. This was much like the One Hundred Day Campaign in that the end of the war was in sight. By summer 1944, Canadians on the home front knew the full extent of the Nazi death camps and they knew that many European cities and towns were on the brink of starvation. Canadians felt Canada could not stop, and could not give Canadian soldiers a break a break. There is also overwhelming evidence that by fall 1944, Canadian soldiers were well aware of the Nazi actions - post battle interviews indicate that soldiers were motivated not by King and Country but by stopping the Nazis. Nevertheless, by this time, there was an epidemic of battle exhaustion.
Reference: Kate Charette, “Day 13: Falaise,” War and the Canadian Experience in France and Flanders, last accessed August 22, 2017, franceandflanders2016.weebly.com/day-13.html.com.
Mémorial des civils dans la guerre
The recently opened Civilians in Wartime Memorial is a one-of-a-kind museum in that it details the experiences of civilians (as opposed to armies) during the Second World War. Specifically, the museum educates visitors about civilians' experiences during both the German occupation and the Allied liberation of France.
Following their visit to the Civilians in Wartime Memorial, Ronda and Vanessa were asked to reflect on their museum experience:
Following their visit to the Civilians in Wartime Memorial, Ronda and Vanessa were asked to reflect on their museum experience:
- Ronda: "As we walked through memorials and fields, Dr. Brown often asked us to consider the civilians during the wars. This is something which isn’t always part of learning about conflict. Being where conflict was brought this to the forefront some; however, it was still something overshadowed by the battle and popular history. The Civilians in Wartime Memorial in Falaise gave us the opportunity to take ourselves out of the mechanics of war and focus on the practical implications to those who lived where the war was. This memorial was engaging and impactful. I was drawn in - the exhibits were clear and interesting, they were well laid out, and drew me in. I remember, at one point, stopping and looking around because I could hear people walking and a baby crying and I wasn’t sure if it was part of the memorial or if it was real - it was part of the displays. The impact of war on the civilians is not something that is commonly considered. We learn about civilians who were interred, such as Anne Frank, but rarely do we learn about those who lived in the midst of war. I hadn’t really considered what happened to the farmers, for example, whose farms were destroyed during battles much less how could they reclaim the land after it was covered with casualties, weapons, ammunition, etc. How does a town rebuild after being destroyed? This memorial did an excellent job of bringing these thoughts to the forefront. It began with a first hand account of the impact - a victim’s testimony as it were. This was supported by images both on screen and a physical representation of some devastation. This set us in the right mindset to continue throughout the centre. Displays, sounds, images, and text all worked together to continue the story of civilians. I left the centre feeling as though I gained a glimpse into the world of civilians impacted by war."
- Vanessa: "I thoroughly enjoyed the museum/memorial, because it sheds light on a little-known, but important, story of the Second World War: the French civilians' experiences. The opening video immediately piqued my interest because it shared true stories of French civilians. Also, I was impressed that the information included in the exhibit halls was to-the-point and addressed the 'human element' of war. The artifacts and stories on display touched me emotionally, particularly the row of children's desks and the description of children's educational experiences during the Nazi occupation. As an early education teacher and as someone who struggles with reading, I appreciated that the exhibits were not too text-heavy and that they included multi-sensory displays."
The Impact of the Normandy Campaign on France's Identity
Throughout the week, Cindy has asked us to consider the impact of the Battle of Normandy on France's identity. Abbi, Emily, and Mike shared their thoughts on the effects of the Normandy Campaign on France.
- Abbi: "I think this question is the most telling about my knowledge of the Normandy Campaign. I had not considered how the Battle of Normandy might have impacted the identity of France, as often we do not consider perspectives other than our own. It makes me question how they view their position as “liberated” in comparison to the “liberator” and how that plays into the identity of the Vichy government."
- Emily: "The Battle of Normandy has affected France’s identity in that it has made the French stronger. While walking around the sites in Normandy I saw that the French have carried on with their lives but have not forgotten the tragedies that happened. This has made me realize that even though the French have seen a tragic past, they can remain strong and still be one of the most historically beautiful places."
- Mike: "As we travelled through Normandy it was apparent that the effects of the war are still visible. Monuments in every town, cemeteries, museums, and rebuilt towns ate evidence of the total war waged here. One of the most powerful experiences I had on the tour was visiting the Memorial des Civils dans La Guerre. The exhibits here highlight the destructive nature of the conflict here and the effect it had on civilians. The tone of the exhibits is not punitive, at least of the allied contribution, of the harm to the people of Normandy. Indeed, throughout Normandy one can find evidence of appreciation of Allied efforts to repatriate the country, this includes street names, restaurant names, memorials, Allied flags and above all attitudes of residents. I can’t speak to French identity but the Normandy campaign has left it’s mark on the people of Normandy."
Creating a Safe Learning Space
Throughout the study tour, we have discussed the importance of creating learning environments that enable students to openly share their ideas, opinions, and Powerful Questions. Below is a list of actions that teachers can take to create safe learning spaces, which in turn lead students to take chances and embrace vulnerability and messiness.
- Greet students when they arrive.
- Refrain from judging students' contributions.
- Ask students if they need assistance.
- Demonstrate care and compassion towards students.
- Treat students as human beings, not simply children.
- Get involved in extracurricular activities to spend time with students outside of the classroom.
- Communicate to students that learning is about them, not about teachers.
- Give students a voice: Embrace students' teaching and allow students to shape their own learning (negotiate projects and assessment components).
Urville-Langannerie Polish War Cemetery
Urville-Langannerie, the only Polish war cemetery in Normandy, commemorates almost 700 Polish soldiers who fell during the Second World War. Maintained by France's Office national des anciens combattants et victimes de guerre (ONAC), Urville-Langannerie features crosses and a central commemorative monument.
A few days following our visit to Urville-Langannerie, Marshall commented on how the Polish commemorate their war dead:
A few days following our visit to Urville-Langannerie, Marshall commented on how the Polish commemorate their war dead:
- Marshall: "The Polish remember their dead somewhat differently than others. The tombstones are crosses that are made up of tiny stones, rather than solid rock like those in the Commonwealth cemeteries. Nevertheless, I do feel the Poles are like the Commonwealth countries in that they try to remember and respect their dead, as opposed to the Germans, whose cemeteries show strength and courage."
Our Visit With Our Canadian Cousins in Rocquancourt
This evening we had the privilege of visiting the village of Rocquancourt, a town with which Cindy, Blake, and Lee have built strong ties. During our visit, we met and conversed with three women who lived in Rocquancourt during the Second World War. Through them, we gained a greater appreciation of the hardships that French civilians endured - and the strength and creativity they demonstrated - during the German occupation of their homes.
Before we shared apéritifs with Rocquancourt's townsfolk, Denis Viel, the mayor, provided us with some background information about Rocquancourt.
Lorelei, who is bilingual, spoke at great length with the three Second World War survivors. Following our visit with our Canadian cousins, she shared the following reflection:
Before we shared apéritifs with Rocquancourt's townsfolk, Denis Viel, the mayor, provided us with some background information about Rocquancourt.
- During the Second World War, 95% of Rocquancourt was destroyed. Only 3 houses were left standing!
- The civilians hid underground; however, to trick the occupiers into believing that families were living in their houses, a few men remained above ground.
- The Jewish civilians of Rocquancourt were taken away from their village.
- Despite the fact that Rocquancourt was obliterated, the civilians rebuilt the village.
- The civilians of Rocquancourt consider Canadians to be more than just liberators - they consider Canadians to be members of their families.
- To express their gratitude towards Canada, Rocquancourt's main square flies the Canadian flag and features red and white flowers.
Lorelei, who is bilingual, spoke at great length with the three Second World War survivors. Following our visit with our Canadian cousins, she shared the following reflection:
- Lorelei: "Roquencourt was a humbling and hopeful experience. I saw hope for this sad, awful world in the faces of the townsfolk who came out to meet and greet us."
Seminar
As a prelude to her seminar, Lynzee reflected on how connected she felt to the civilian experience described at the Mémorial des civils dans la guerre. She then facilitated a large-group discussion during which we shared responses to the question How can we connect better with our students so that they feel safe and feel as though their voices are heard?.
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