Interrobang: Teaching History

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[two_third_last]It’s become accepted wisdom that we teach the past so we can learn from it.  But when we teach past harms done to a particular group of people, are we setting up future racism, antisemitism, gender and other types of inequality?

In an experiment in the 1960’s brown eyed and blue eyed kids were told that the blue eyed kids were superior, and the statement was reinforced by giving preferential treatment to the blue eyed children.  Within 24 hours, the kids were adopting the belief that one group was superior to the other.

So when we teach about the injustices done in the past, are we creating more harm? Or are the lessons of the past important enough that we need to continue teaching them even if they are teaching somehow teaching kids about inequality. [/two_third_last]

 

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Interrobang Staff

Interrobang Staff