Conflict Heritage and Education

In 2008, at the execution yard of Oostakker-Rieme in the province of East Flanders, an educational try-out for primary school pupils was organised by students of the Arteveldehogeschool. In May 2009 the same package was tested once again. Another group of students developed a programme for the battlefield of Oudenaarde, dating from 1708.

                

The educational approach consists of an introductory lesson in the classroom, followed by an excursion to the site and is concluded by follow-up activities in the classroom. The Ename Center provides the heritage content and acts as scientific supervisor.

The educational package of Oostakker-Rieme explains the difficult themes of the resistance during the Second World War and the executions that took place on the yard as the basis for discussion with the children. Via the fictitious story of Timo’s grandpa the pupils learn about the life of a resistance fighter during the Second World War.

                

The educational project about the Battle of Oudenaarde introduces pupils of the fifth and sixth grade primary school to the work of battlefield archaeologists and tells them more about the battle that took place on July 11th 1708. Jeroen, the archaeologist, takes the children in tow and immerses them in the world of archaeology using a video message and various assignments. They are taught to look at the present-day landscape from another angle and try to find out what happened 300 years earlier. The educational programme is now being tested by three classes from Zottegem and Oudenaarde.

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