Book to retain its structure
Which parts of the book will the authors change? It’s too early to say exactly. We are at the stage of studying the comments. The writers have to be prudent because the idea is to move forward, not backward to where the scaremongering and undemocratic tactics want to take us. Where else in the book will there be changes? At this stage the changes mainly concern the introductions to the texts, because the attention and comments have focused on them. The structure of the book, the overall methodological and scientific basis, will not change. The ratio of text to historical sources will not change, for instance. We are open to such changes, but they will emerge from an assessment of the «teachability» of the book. If teachers have difficulty managing the new method, we will take it seriously into account and work with the Pedagogical Institute on finding ways to rectify it. That will not be in the coming school year but the one after. In that case, should we expect a new, completely different book? We should expect an even better book. That is our goal and we hope teachers will help us with that and refuse to see the book through the eyes of its critics. They must stick to their own opinion and not get caught up in partisan pettiness. In my view, the biggest problem for the book is not what is being said in public and on television but the echoes of that shouting in schools. The book will be taught from the start of the school year in all Greek and Greek-Cypriot schools, and it is an incredible act of political irresponsibility to run down a book that the state and the competent authorities have deemed suitable for schools. Besides, this book is already in all schoolbags. Has anyone who makes their career on television wondered how children feel about being taught this book? How much their relation to history, knowledge, school and the state has been destabilized?
