The Mobile Museum of Tolerance brought its educational workshop to Westview High School on April 23, 2026, focusing on combating hate and bias among students.

Understanding Propaganda and the Holocaust

The workshop centered on the dangers of propaganda and its role in enabling atrocities, using the historical context of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust as a key example. Students examined visual propaganda, including Hermann Otto Hoyer’s painting ‘In the Beginning was the Word,’ which depicted an early Adolf Hitler rally.

The Power of Ordinary People

Facilitator Ewa Geisler led students in analyzing how imagery and rhetoric were used to manipulate public opinion and incite hatred. The core message, “The Power of Ordinary People,” emphasized that events like the Holocaust weren’t solely the work of extremist leaders.

Geisler explained that horrific events were the result of the actions – and inactions – of everyday individuals influenced by propaganda and societal biases. Students discussed manipulation tactics, the dangers of unchecked political worship, and individual responsibility in challenging prejudice.

Addressing Contemporary Concerns

Students reflected on parallels between historical events and current political climates, expressing concerns about misinformation and the potential for history to repeat itself. Fallon Allshire, a student at Westview, noted the prevalence of misinformation among her peers, especially on social media.

Aiden Lee, a tenth-grade student, underscored the speed at which information spreads online and the importance of fact-checking.

Museum’s Origins and Impact

The Mobile Museum of Tolerance launched in 2020 in response to a growing need for education on hate and bias. Recent data from the California Commission on the State of Hate indicates teenagers are more than twice as likely as adults to experience hate, making the museum’s outreach particularly timely.

The museum’s workshops provide students with resources for navigating online hate speech and misinformation, aiming to build a more informed and tolerant generation. The workshop concluded with a renewed emphasis on individual responsibility and the power of critical thinking in preventing future tragedies.