NEWS

Eminent historians have faced criticism in the past

What do you think are the main reasons behind the attacks on the book? Are they political or scientific and educational? History in Greece has taught us that the reasons for disputes over textbooks are always ideological and political. Other educational and scientific reasons are added along the way that would not have emerged had the schoolbook not become the target of ideological attacks. In 1984, for instance, the textbook for the third year of junior high school, written by Vassilis Kremmydas, one of the most distinguished historians and professors of history in Greece, which was criticized for its ideological content, was eventually branded «anti-historical» and anti-educational because of its methodology and language. In 1985, Lefteris Stavrianos’s book «History of the Human Race,» which was condemned for «atheism» and for overturning «the foundation of Greek civilization,» ended up being judged «historically unfounded» and «educationally deficient.» Remember that Stavrianos (1914-2004), a professor at the University of Chicago, was also an eminent historian and the «father» of global history. We keep seeing that the scientific and educational argument becomes an alibi for holding history education hostage to notions from the past so as to subvert any development and upgrading of history education for the children and the future citizens of Greece. I believe that this time we can and must handle it differently. We shouldn’t let them take away another good schoolbook.

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