A POEM AND HOW TO USE IT

FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS
AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT-
BECAUSE I WAS NOT A JEW.
THEN THEY CAME FOR THE COMMUNISTS
AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT-
FOR I WAS NOT A COMMUNIST.
NEXT THEY CAME FOR THE TRADE UNIONISTS
AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT-
BECAUSE I WAS NOT A TRADE UNIONIST.
THEN THEY CAME FOR ME
AND THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT
TO SPEAK OUT FOR ME.
By Pasteur Niemüller

LOOK AT THE POEM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE POEM IS ABOUT?

WHO ARE THE ''THEY" MENTIONED IN THE POEM?

DESCRIBE THE KIND OF SITUATION YOU IMAGINE, WHEN THEY COME AND TAKE YOU AWAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THE POEM?

WHAT DOES THE POEM HAVE TO DO WITH OUR LIVES AT SCHOOL?

YOU MAY WANT TO USE BLACK PEOPLE, ASIAN PEOPLE AND LESBIAN AND GAY PEOPLE AS SUBSTITUTES FOR THE GROUPS

Please note that these lessons raise issues that need planning and thought on the part of teacher and school to develop if they are to be properly useful. Children will express prejudice and fear and these must be supportively dealt with. There must also be support for vulnerable pupils and staff.