European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday april 25, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 pupils going to Beach for history class  writer Berlin Germany to turn abstract concepts about the Battle of nor Mandy into ideas that can be grasped by pupils born 40 years after the fact May be difficult. But Ynez Olshausen principal of Berlin s Thomas a. Roberts Elemen tary school simply considers it a professional Challenge. To that end 20 american children along with about 80 from four other elementary schools in Berlin will spend roughly 12 Days on the beaches of nor Mandy in late May and Early june to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Allied Landing. The pupils Are expected to be the youngest attendees to share the spotlight with Heads of state and 30,000 veterans paying tribute to the june 6,1944, land my that would turn the tide of the Warfor the allies. The trip will be a symbolic gesture of the leadership of the future and of inter National understanding and  from Berlin s British and French elementary schools a German elementary school and the russian elementary school in Berlin will join the americans to travel live and learn to Gether in Normandy. Taking pupils from five nations who speak four different languages to nor Mandy appealed to Olshausen for several reasons she said. First Thomas a. Roberts for who her school is named was killed in nor Mandy but his uni fought on to Berlin Olshausen said. Also the school closes this year with the end of the . Military presence in Berlin. As we close Well be going full Circle closing that chapter too she said since the school Likely will Bear a new Nam after it is transferred to the germans. The school has registered Roberts name for the Wall of Liberty a major new Monument expected to be dedicated in Caen Normandy s chief City in june. The Wall will Honor All american Veter ans who served in the european theater during world War ii because the 10 to 12-year-Olds Are Mooyoung to appreciate fully How the nor Mandy Landing helped shape their lives the schools together developed a a Day curriculum. The curriculum comprises eight subjects with the trip As an Extension. It entails the Landing communication Alli ances secrecy and trickery numbers of troops and equipment the French Lan Guage the Impact of War on combatants and civilians and key people involved. In teaching Young people about the past the overwhelming task is to make it real for them so that it changes the Way they think so they Don t repeat the mistakes of history when they become the leaders of tomorrow Olshausen said  teach history if not to see Pat terns that led to outcomes you Don twant or to see patterns Overall and then to choose Behaviours and options in the future based on what you know about what happened in the past lessons cover a variety of topics. For example the children Are taught poise and social skills for their meetings with vips possibly including president Linton. They re taught about alliances then and now teachers can easily liken these to falling out and making up with Friend. The invasion picture is being painted by col. Thomas Hendrix a Ber Lin Community member who taught Mili tary history at the . Military Academy at West Point ,"they understand that alliances shift but the most difficult concepts have to do with the Impact of War on not Only those fighting but on civilians Olshausen said. Is Al Majonos looking Over the a Day curriculum Are american school pupils from left Kelly Gusch re acc Mcgill Vanessa Molina Megan Handy and Marie Lent von Sachsen. Kids eager for own a Day Mission  writer Berlin Germany there s special place in Kara Towles heart for one vet eran who Clung tothe Hope of free Dom during the1944 liberation of France he Grandfather. A funny feel ing comes with the thought of seeing where he fought and one of Towl Esthe areas where War actually took place Kara  is one of 20 pupils at Berlin s Thomas a. Roberts elementary school who will embark with 80 British French German and russian Young sters on a journey to France s Normandy Region. The Young people will at tend and participate m celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the june 6,1944, a Day Landing. Itin Raire pour la paix or itinerary for peace a multinational and multidisciplinary program of studies and. Activities that pupils have been participating in since the school ear began will end injure on the beaches of Normandy. Kara expects to gain a better knowledge of the War from the project but she would prefer such event remain bygones. Fighting for causes is kind of like counts religion said Kara 9. Some on oneside of a belief and some on the other. If everyone would try to agree nothings there would t have Tob Ewar Vall the participating schoolchildren living Iberlin a City once divided by Sharp contrasts of Freedom an bondage Are involved in stud ies to prepare them to be in formed participants in the celebrations. The curriculum developed especially for them ranges from the French language to therole the liberation played in shaping their lives. The youngsters mostly fifth an sixth graders May not yet have grasped All of the critical aspects of a Day but they have an appreciation of the event that took place decades before their  Don t think we d be living in Ber Lin today had they not fought world War ii said 12-year-old Kelly Gesch. I be worked hard to prepare said Kelly a native of Montgomery ala., and i think it will be a great experience. It s a once in a lifetime  the Young pupils also have distinct thoughts on their reasons for going to France and what they expect when they arrive. Although Megan Handy does like to study history she s still glad to help recognize people who helped Outin the invasion and i expect to meet a lot of new people she said. So far Rene Mcgill has most enjoyed learning French and Sam Eling French rods brought to their learning ses Sions. Renee born in califor Nia likes travel Alexa Dering so the trip to Normandy will fit right in she said. Jon Alexander just wants to get there he said. He s ready to Lear More about what the country was like and what they fought  twelve year old Antonio count looks Forward to celebrating a famous event and having a Good time but also wants to learn More about what happened during the War. I think we re pretty Lucky he said. We re Here and we get to  events honouring Kara s Grandfather and All veterans who served in the euro Pean theater during world War ii Likely will be fit for television Kara said. Events will be like the commercials american military heritage she said re Ferring to the . Military history spot lights broadcast regularly on an we Haven t touched As much on that area As some others because that is con Tingent upon having some of this other  also Are learning practical French math dealing with the numbers of people who fought and died How a major operation might be secretly planned and carried out and geography relating to France Germany and eng  addition to their attendance at an evening ceremony Jame 6 in Caen on the grounds of the memorial peace museum pupils Are scheduled to visit cemeteries and participate in educational programs. It s going to be like taking a step Bac Kinto the past said Stephanie Wilson 11 a sixth grader who is counting the Days to departure. I feel proud to be Able to stand where americans fought for us and i Hope president Clinton will talk to the Ameri can kids  also planned Are a Beach party an lessons in Sand sailing. The pupils will Fly to France in late May aboard a French military aircraft and stay at a youth Hostel on the Beach in Normandy