HISTORY
The Perfect History Textbook
What is History?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmtMpQAIKjQ
History is not the past only, but the study and interpretation of past events from the
perspective of the present.
History is a narrative, a story, that a culture tells itself to make sense of the past. As Ken
Burns wrote, ‘People tend to forget that “history” contains the word “story”.’
‘Historical study is not the study of the past but the study of present traces of the past. If
people have said, thought, done, or suffered anything of which nothing any longer
exists, those things are as though they had never been.’ (GR Elton)
Bias (implicit, cultural, gender, etc.) is unavoidable, but can it at least be
acknowledged? Even by choosing to study one thing and not another, we are
demonstrating bias. There will always be events, peoples, perspectives, etc. that are left
out and/or marginalised.
The Five Most…
Work in groups of 3-4 students.
Your task is to design, defend, and reflect on a plan for what you think would be the
ideal high school history textbook; in other words…What is worth learning?
First, take 10 minutes to brainstorm a quick list for each of the following:
• the five most significant historical events of all time
• the five most significant historical events of the last 500 years
• the five most significant historical events (movement, discovery, happening) in the
history of The United States, England, or China, etc.
• the five most significant events of the 21st century.
Was this easy or difficult? Why? What might we mean by significant?
Discuss and Decide
Share your group’s lists with another group. Compare your responses. Do you notice any
trends? Do you see any examples of bias? Are you surprised at what your classmates put
in or left out? In what way do you think these lists might be different for students in other
parts of the world?
Your next important job is to finalise these lists (as best you can) overall as a class. This
might involve discussion and/or debate, and someone will need to moderate this and
note down your final lists. Try to be involved as much as possible – make your voice and
ideas heard, and be ready to submit your lists next lesson. We have more to do…