“History is like a knife..”
The report in the Sunday Tribune on the Oireachtas Select Committee on Education and Science report on teaching modern Irish history contains a compelling argument.
History teachers said they avoided Northern Ireland because it “can raise discriminatory attitudes in class and name calling”. There was little support for introducing it in the classroom, they said.Other reasons given by teachers for avoiding the subject were they felt they lacked knowledge of the subject and believed they could not compete with the information the students got from their communities and families. [added emphasis]
But the report warns this will have to change. “If students do not learn about modern Irish history in a school context, will they be skilled enough to interpret what they see in the media outside school?” it asks.
Among the report’s recommendations [Word doc]
Recommendations:
• There needs to be a full acceptance at political level that History is a subject that can assist in a very vital part of a child’s development in this era of changing dynamics and continue to support changes that are still deemed necessary.
• Former approaches to History stressed a single interpretation of events as being “the Truth”. It is now internationally accepted that there can be many views and interpretations, which are based on evidence, and there is validity to the Multiple Perspective approach that assists and encourages students to respect diversity and cultural difference rather than reinforce the more negative aspects of Nationalism.
Brian Walker is completely right to bring this most important thread back to topic.
I found Irish history one of the most exciting courses I ever taught, and I too started off with J. C. Beckett’s Making of Modern Ireland a quarter century ago, then adding things like a slide show, and accompanying lecture of Celtic treasures, the Vikings’ role in the development of Europe, Anglo-Irish relations during Tudor and Stuart times, the failure of Protestant Ireland to gain self-rule, Ireland as Britain’s basket case after the Napoleonic wars, a double dose of what A. V. Dicey et al. did for Ireland leading up to WWI, and Ireland’s trials and tribulations on both sides of the border during the 20th century.
Given the level and interests of the students, and outlook of the teacher, it can be made into one of the widest ranging, curiosity arousing, question-answersing courses on the books.
There was an interesting program on RTE1 last night (30/09/08) called, “hidden history”. It delved into the aspirations of those in the Republic who didn’t follow De Valera and IRA/Sinn Feins sense of Republicanism. One Irish gentleman stated Sinn Fein behaved like Nazi’s in how they forced their Republican agenda onto the Irish people regarding the British monarchy.
‘One Irish gentleman stated Sinn Fein behaved like Nazi’s in how they forced their Republican agenda onto the Irish people regarding the British monarchy. ‘
Did he mention how Britain forced it’s ‘monarchy ‘ on the Irish people during the second conquest 1550 through 1690?
Apparently they behaved with gentlemanly equanimity and a real sensitivity to native Irish religious and cultural concerns, by only ‘exterminating ‘ one third of the island’s population (670,000 people approx) in an orgy of ethnic cleansing , war induced famines, and forced exile for those who would not submit to the British Crown.
You need to develop some sense of historical perspective . A bunch of SF thugs knocking the collection boxes of the British legion to the ground on Poppy Day is a far cry from the gas chambers of Belsen .
who was it that moved Queen Victoria’s statue from Dublin to Australia? Whoever it was would continue to revise Irish history just to suit their own bigoted agenda.
“[i]Did he mention how Britain forced it’s ‘monarchy ‘ on the Irish people during the second conquest 1550 through 1690?”[/i]
Look, quite the shit. Go to the fucking Pope and demand your ‘freedom’ Greenflag. While you bitch on about the English and refuse to complaign about the Vatican, you conform to the rules England and Rome made on this island. Wise-up and stop your bigotry.
UMH,
A small point, the Republic of Ireland is a functioning democracy.
If its people wanted the British monarchy then that is what they would get.
The vast majority of the Irish people and almost everyone in the Republic reject the British Crown.
Some believe that there is are thousands of loyal royalists in the South, I think that is nonsense and no election has ever revealed anything of the sort.
As the the vatican thing, I think to engage that point would merely take away from the craziness of it.
Crazy indeed ggn, kinda like not knowing Paul Newman had blue eyes.
While you bitch on about the English and refuse to complaign about the Vatican
We are governed from Westminster, not the Vatican.
‘While you bitch on about the English’
I did’nt even mention the word English . I used the term Britain and British monarchy and I was referring to actual historical facts which any recognised history book will make clear to you .
The ‘English’ never made war on Ireland – Their Kings and Queens did . That was the way it was.
Why should I complain to the Vatican ? They get nothing from me and I receive the same in return from them . The Papacy is just as much an anachronism to me as is the British monarchy . They are both ancient non democratic institutions which give comfort to many people on these islands . Alas they do nothing for me .
Greenflag serves neither King nor Kaiser nor Pope. I’m kinda selfish on that score . I elect my political representatives based on their policies and not on whether they wear a clerical collar or what religion they profess .
Now go and untie your knickers from the knot you’ve gotten into and have a good night