As the daylight savings time casts longer shadows in Iowa, it’s a stark reminder of the transient nature of life and the profound impact of human stories. Today, I find myself reflecting on the life and legacy of Michel Mockers, whose recent passing has left a mark on my heart and mind.
Michel Mockers, a valiant resistance fighter during World War II, was more than a figure from the history books. He was a living testament to the resilience of the human spirit. His life story, rich with lessons of courage, perseverance, and hope, has been a beacon for students and educators alike in our journey of authentic learning. Having the opportunity to spend months with him and students brought the classroom to life as realized that studying the past is so much more than facts and stats. We are talking about people and the complexities that come with being human.
In collaboration with students from various classrooms, we embarked on a project to capture Michel’s extraordinary journey. This culminated in a picture book, “Michel Mockers: The Resistance Fighter Who Never Quit,” a testament to his life, now published and accessible to all by A Book By Me. The project went beyond traditional learning methods. Students engaged in deep research, conducted interviews with Michel, and worked passionately to narrate his story with the dignity and accuracy it deserved.Working with publishers, comic industry folks, art historians, and so much more, the work was more than earning a grade, but doing right for someone who opened his life to us.
The process was a living classroom, an epitome of human pedagogy, where learning transcended textbooks and standards. It was about connecting with the human experience, understanding the past through the eyes of someone who lived it, and learning life’s invaluable lessons.
The emotional power of this journey was when students read their version of his story to Michel. The impact was palpable, a moment where history, humanity, and education converged beautifully.
Michel’s story and our project together are stark reminders of the fleeting nature of time. As I reflect on the unfinished email to Michel that I was in the process of writing as he continued to write and share his ideas with me, it’s a poignant lesson to value the time we have and the stories we share.
Our world is rapidly losing the voices and stories of the World War II generation. It’s a call for more authentic learning experiences in schools. We need educational approaches that go beyond meeting standards, ones that explore into the heart of human pedagogy — teaching and learning that resonate with the human experience and cultivate empathy, understanding, and connection.
As educators, we have a duty to foster these experiences. It’s essential to encourage our students to engage with history, not just as a subject to be studied but as a story to be felt and understood. We must guide them to see beyond the pages of their textbooks and connect with the lives that shaped our past.
In remembering Michel, we do more than honor his memory. We reaffirm our commitment to teaching and learning that touches lives, influences hearts, and shapes a more empathetic and informed generation. Michel’s story, and the way it was brought to life through the dedication of young minds, is a powerful example of what education can and should be.
Let us continue to carry forward this legacy, ensuring that the stories like Michel’s are not merely remembered but are lived and learned by each new generation. In doing so, we pay the highest tribute to those who have shaped our history and our humanity.
Michel Mockers: The Resistance Fighter Who Never Quit https://amzn.to/4a7xGE3
We documented the entire process of how students conducted research, interviews with Michel, worked passionately to tell his story properly, and were able to do this authentic learning while still meeting all the standards. While the project website has many pages and links, I believe this page is the one that captures the spirit. Read the statements of the students and ask if your child or students feel like this at any point in their learning experience in school?
And this video explores why I believe this type of teaching and learning is so important. This discusses another person named Riva who was a Holocaust survivor, but message is the exact same as with Michel.
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