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	<title>Love of History &#187; nationalism</title>
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	<link>http://loveofhistory.com</link>
	<description>A historical perspective of current events</description>
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		<title>Burn History Books!</title>
		<link>http://loveofhistory.com/burn-history-books/</link>
		<comments>http://loveofhistory.com/burn-history-books/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:06:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[constantinakatsari]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[constantina katsari]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[greece]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nationalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[schoolbooks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://constantinakatsari.wordpress.com/?p=21</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[No doubt the call to burn History books reminds us of some the darkest times in European History of the 20th century. I am very well aware that such calls led in the past to perverse actions and heinous crimes, nothing short of sacrilege. And yet, some books trigger such strongly negative feelings in me that I would rather see them burned. These are the History books produced by the Greek government and distributed to innocent schoolchildren. Once the books reach the classroom the teacher has no option but to agree with the content. Plurality of opinions is not allowed and in some instances it is punishable. Recently a friend, who informed her pupils of the fact that the Kryfo Scholeio (underground schools organized by the Orthodox Church in the Ottoman empire) was a fiction. The result was a caution from the Headmaster. If she repeated the comment she would lose her job. As historians are not rebels, she complied. A question to be explored is how are these “official” opinions formed? It is evident that schoolbooks are written by professional historians. And there is no doubt that they have the qualifications to deliver work of the highest standard (well, at least some of them). However, we should not forget that schoolbooks are commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Religion. The minister himself is appointed by the government after the elections and, in principle, he reflects the wishes of the electorate. Let us see, though, who manipulates the opinions of this electorate. On March 25th 2007 I was teaching in Leicester. Spring was arriving late and I started feeling homesick. I wanted to reconnect with my home country. So, I decided to attend mass in the Orthodox church in Nottingham. After all, 25th of March is both a religious and a national holiday back home. Upon arrival I rejoiced in the familiar scent of incense and I relished the chance to speak Greek again. But my happiness did not last long. The priest decided to preach us against the new fifth grade history school book. Among his statements there was one that hit home! He claimed that historians are not qualified to write history. Only the Church can really know what happened in the past. As I looked around me I noticed that nobody reacted. I stood up and left in indignation. Later I found out that the debate about the new book has caused hysterical fits among the Greek population. It still does! In several internet forums you will find comments by doctors, lawyers and other members of the Greek intelligentsia, all of them attacking the poor fifth grade book (which has been “burned” in a way). An intelligentsia brought up with already obsolete (and even dangerously nationalistic) views of our historical past. It is obvious that the well-known academic authors insulted some vital part of Greek psyche. A psyche formed by religious propaganda and governmental policies. An ideological web whose origins we trace in previous history schoolbooks, written by extreme nationalists. And I am wondering if it is not the right time for historians to leave their comfortable nests and try to reach people. It is never too late to explain their views, analyze their data and even try to teach some of these analytical skills. Internet certainly expands our horizons and provides new opportunities. Along these lines all schoolbooks should be withdrawn from circulation (OK, burning them maybe somewhat extreme). Instead, teachers can use a variety of ancient sources and modern bibliography, which present different views of history. The sources should be approved by an academic committee without political affiliations, which will safeguard the quality of the material. Then, internet can be used not only as an information platform but also for extensive discussions. Only this way, our pupils will start developing their analytical thinking. Unless, of course, this is what governmental and religious institutions in Greece are afraid of.]]></description>
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