History textbook to stay on shelf
A controversial new primary school history book, which critics have lambasted for allegedly glossing over key events in Greece’s history, is extremely unlikely to reach pupils’ desks, sources told Kathimerini yesterday. Incoming Education Minister Evripidis Stylianidis, who is believed to have been unimpressed with the arguments of academics involved in compiling the book, is expected to announce its withdrawal and replacement with a previous textbook in the next few days, the sources said. Stylianidis yesterday met with members of the Pedagogical Institute who considered his queries about the book’s value during a six-hour session. The institute members reportedly said that the value of the book could only be assessed through its use in schools. As for the total 81 amendments to the original version proposed by the Athens Academy, members said some had been included but others, not deemed to be significant enough, had been omitted. Meanwhile, many primary schools have suspended history classes for sixth-grade pupils, for whom the book is destined, while others are using last year’s textbook. Speaking to Kathimerini yesterday about the controversial textbook, the president of the National Education Council, Thanos Veremis, said the case was as good as closed. «It is very likely that it will be withdrawn as it has prompted strong reactions,» Veremis said. He added, «I believe that most of these reactions have been fueled by the stereotypes many Greeks have rather than the substance of the book itself.» Critics of the original book, which include the Church of Greece, believe that the authors have not provided enough information about key moments in Greek history and have played down the suffering of Greeks at the hands of Ottoman rulers. Before general elections earlier this month, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis had said that the corrected book would be distributed to schools and assessed by academics during its use by pupils.
