Developing Understanding for Europe’s PastDeveloping Understanding for Europe’s Past

Joke van der Leeuw-RoordJoke van der Leeuw-RoordExecutive Director of EUROCLIOExecutive Director of EUROCLIO

European Forum European Forum ““United Europe – United History”United Europe – United History”

Seimas Seimas Vilnius, LithuaniaVilnius, Lithuania

2012 November 15-162012 November 15-16

European ValuesEuropean Values

What can I offer you?What can I offer you?• Inform what is Inform what is EUROCLIOEUROCLIO about about• Address the Address the focusfocus on the on the national single national single

narrative narrative and and mirror of pride and painmirror of pride and pain in in history education history education

• Explore if current presentation of European Explore if current presentation of European history fosters a history fosters a United European HistoryUnited European History

• Give suggestions for Give suggestions for approachapproach and and actionsactions increasing an common understanding of increasing an common understanding of European History European History

December December 19911991, , Council of Europe, Council of Europe, History Teaching in History Teaching in the New Europethe New Europe

November November 19921992, , EUROCLIO, the EUROCLIO, the European European Association of Association of History EducatorsHistory Educators, , establishedestablished

In 2012In 2012 63 63 independent independent Member Member AssociationsAssociations of History and Citizenship of History and Citizenship

Educators from Educators from 4646 countries. countries. 15 15 Associated MembersAssociated Members from from 12 12 countriescountries

In 2012In 2012 63 63 independent independent Member Member AssociationsAssociations of History and Citizenship of History and Citizenship

Educators from Educators from 4646 countries. countries. 15 15 Associated MembersAssociated Members from from 12 12 countriescountries

Democratic Association since 1992Democratic Association since 1992

TARGET GROUPTARGET GROUPHistory, heritage and citizenship education History, heritage and citizenship education

professionals willing to act as learnersprofessionals willing to act as learners• (Board) Members of EUROCLIO

Member Associations • Teachers in primary and

secondary schools• Teacher trainers • Trainee teachers• Textbook authors• Curriculum developers• Assessment Experts• Advisors and inspectors• Academic historians and

specialists in history education• Educational staff in museums

and institutes• Representatives of Educational

Authorities

EUROCLIO MISSIONEUROCLIO MISSIONEUROCLIO supports the Development ofEUROCLIO supports the Development ofResponsibleResponsible and and Innovative Innovative History andHistory and

Citizenship EducationCitizenship Education

by promoting

Critical Thinking, Mutual Respect, Peace, Stability and Democracy..

HistoryHistory education helps students understand the world education helps students understand the world they live in and supports their orientation for the future.they live in and supports their orientation for the future.

“History is a rear window mirror, you must always check back but

unless you keep focussed on the way ahead you’re going nowhere” Quote Mural in Belfast

REFLECTION ON THE AIMS REFLECTION ON THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF AND OBJECTIVES OF TEACHING HISTORYTEACHING HISTORY

Politics of Memory and HistoryPolitics of Memory and History National Mirror of Pride and Pain

Example Croatian Air

Characteristics:1. Pain and Victim hood2. Pride3. Little Shame and Self

Reflection

Yes17%

No69%

Undecided15%

Yes

No

Undecided

EUROCLIO Questionnaire 2010 EUROCLIO Questionnaire 2010 ““My country’s approach to multi-perspectivity

is satisfactory””

Single NarrativeSingle Narrative

Challenge:Impacting not manipulating students’ emotions

… it will be a big challengea big challenge to fulfil the legitimate request of victims, legitimate request of victims, that their suffering suffering should be acknowledged acknowledged in textbooks and at the same time not to not to burden a new generation with new fuel to burden a new generation with new fuel to prolong hatred and willingness to fight.prolong hatred and willingness to fight.

Elisabeth Cole (2010)

• National pride from values atlas

EUROCLIO Q 2010EUROCLIO Q 2010 RecentRecent “ “ changes in the history curriculum in my country led to

a more local / regional, national, European, global perspective.”

Local/RegionalLocal/Regional National

EuropeanEuropean GlobalGlobal

Q 2005; Representation of European European HistoryHistory in the curricula for 12-15 years

old/compulsory subject

0%

10%20%

30%

40%

50%60%

70%

80%

NorthernEurope

WesternEurope

CentralEurope

South-WesternEurope

SouthEasternEurope

EasternEurope

Good coverageModest coverage

2005 Q; Representation of European European historyhistory for 15-18/19 years old?

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Northe

rn E

urope

West

ern Europ

e

Centr

al Eu

rope

South

-West

ern Europ

e

South

East

ern Euro

pe

Easte

rn Eu

rope

Extensive amountQuite large coverageOccasional coverageVery little coverageNo coverage at all

2005 Q, Time Time to cover European issues?

Yes, very muchYes, muchYes, some/littleYes, very littleNo certaintyNo, not at all

How to proceed?

RESPONSIBLE HISTORY TEACHINGRESPONSIBLE HISTORY TEACHINGWillingness to question to question and to deconstruct

historical mythsAccept that history is based on verifiable and

cross-referenced evidenceevidence Understand that history is made of multi-layered multi-layered

narrativesRecognize that history is interpretationinterpretation

INNOVATIVE HISTORY TEACHINGINNOVATIVE HISTORY TEACHING

Implementing a Renewed Historical Renewed Historical Paradigm.Paradigm.

Developing CompetenciesCompetencies: Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes.

INNOVATIVE HISTORY TEACHINGINNOVATIVE HISTORY TEACHING

New Historical New Historical ParadigmParadigm

Balance between Political, Balance between Political, Cultural, Economic and Social Cultural, Economic and Social

Perspectives Perspectives GenderGender

Global History ApproachGlobal History Approach

DiversityDiversity

Everyday LifeEveryday Life

MigrationMigration

Human RightsHuman Rights

Balance between Geographical Balance between Geographical DimensionsDimensions

Come and join a multi-facetted event and contribute to shaping the face of contemporary history education. Learn, inspire, share, develop and listen with 200 peers and experts. Use this chance to see education from manifold perspectives and profit from taking part in this multinational event.

HISTORY ON THE AGENDAHISTORY ON THE AGENDAAnnual Professional Development Courses since 1992Annual Professional Development Courses since 1992

HISTORY ON THE AGENDAHISTORY ON THE AGENDAEUROCLIO Annual Professional Development Courses EUROCLIO Annual Professional Development Courses

Come and join a multi-facetted event and contribute to shaping the face of contemporary history education. Learn, Learn, inspire, share, develop and listen with 200 inspire, share, develop and listen with 200 peers and experts.peers and experts. Use this chance to see education from manifold perspectives and profit from taking part in this multinational event. http://www.euroclio.eu/new/index.php/2013-erfurt

http://historiana.eu/

Alternative pan-European Teaching ToolAlternative pan-European Teaching Tool

Role of politiciansRole of politiciansWhat can be done?What can be done?

• ReduceReduce emphasis on national political emphasis on national political historyhistory

• StimulateStimulate a cross-border approach in a cross-border approach in school historyschool history

• Encourage Encourage exploring common themes, exploring common themes, also showing positive experiences also showing positive experiences

Need for Investments and Need for Investments and Action! Action!

• Build independent Build independent cross border museumscross border museums• Create Create cross-border heritage resourcescross-border heritage resources such as such as

EuropeanaEuropeana http://www.europeana.eu • Support Support cross border accessible on-line cross border accessible on-line

educational toolseducational tools such as Historiana such as Historiana• Stimulate Stimulate cross-border training of history cross-border training of history

educatorseducators• Empower Empower European Heritage LabelEuropean Heritage Label • SupportSupport EUROCLIO, keep EU Operational GrantsEUROCLIO, keep EU Operational Grants