Tuesday 5 March 2013

History of our own

I am happy to be working in a school at the moment that promotes the kind of History that would get Mr Grove foaming at the mouth. No kings, queens, Isambard Kingdom Brunel or David Livingston. 

The student population is largely Black and the school makes no apology for featuring Black history heavily in the curriculum. And not just the usual GCSE focus on 1960s Civil Rights but Black British History - pre-colonial Africa, slavery in the Caribbean, decolonisation and post-war immigration. It shouldn't really be a surprise then  that as a result, History is popular at the school, and the kids are actually keen to take part in the lessons.

This attempt to connect what is being taught to student's own experiences and the world today is not restricted to Black History. Yesterday we were discussing the possibility of  a school trip to a viewing of Ken Loach's new film 'Spirit of 45'. And this weekend I was interviewing my Dad to use a source for his memories of hearing Aneurin Bevan speak at a public meeting at that time.

This teacher-training business is probably the most all-consuming and draining thing I've ever done -  but it certainly beats the crap out of what I used to put up with in my previous life ...

4 comments:

Dr Llareggub said...

One of my early memories was been taken to hear Nye Bevan speak at the Durham miner's Gala and having it pointed out to me that each black patches on the banners represented a miner who had lost his life during the year. I heard him speak several years later in North Wales.But no one today is interested. Good to teach black history, but excessive emphasis on white guilt needs to be avoided.Bet you will get slaughtered if you mention the Arab slave traders or the countries today serving on the UN Human Rights Council who have large populations of slaves. Once history is tailored for specific populations the risks are enormous.

Journeyman said...

I don't teach white guilt - I'm trying a socialist analysis: On the subject of slavery my starting point is that contrary to what Hegel said, Africa did have a history before Europeans arrived. This history included great civilizations and cultures but also conflict - and slavery. What made it qualitatively different after Europeans got involved was a particular cocktail of racism and early capitalism. The slave trade made possible much of the accumulation necessary for industrial take-off.

Dr Llareggub said...

Sorry, when I mentioned teaching white guilt I was not attributing that to you, but drawing attention to the fact that some history teachers have gone that way. I agree entirely with you regarding that cocktail of racism and capitalism. One of my beliefs is that the northern working classes are not being adequately recognised for their opposition to slavery and indeed racism; eg. support for the US cotton slaves, and in my own life time, objections to the treatment of black soldiers in the US forces during the war. There is a good tradition of white working class anti racism which is not adequately recognised. It looks as if you are doing some good work with the kids.

Journeyman said...

no offence taken. You are quite right to identify the problem of guilty white liberals - it is a phenomenon that can create a breeding ground for the Far Right amongst the alienated white working class.