George Orwell's famous quote, "Who controls the past controls the future, who controls the present controls the past," aptly illustrates the profound influence of history education. It has the potential to both divide and unite. A new book published by the Council of Europe promotes critical thinking and understanding, emphasising the unifying aspects of history to strengthen democratic culture in Europe.
Renewing History Education to Uphold Democracy explores the Council of Europe's groundbreaking initiatives to redefine history teaching. The publication is part of the joint EU-Council of Europe project, Transnational History Education and Cooperation Laboratory (HISTOLAB), which helps unite people around shared historical experiences.
By highlighting multi-perspectivity and democratic values within reformed curricula, the book advocates for critical historical inquiry. The authors demonstrate how new methods and standards in Serbia's history curriculum enhance its European dimension.
In addition, the book explores how the digital transition in museum learning has created significant opportunities for innovative museum learning approaches, while also addressing new challenges. The authors detail the impact of digital public history and museum theatre on historical interpretation and accessibility in museum settings.
One chapter is devoted to the importance of inclusive historical research and accessibility in history education across schools, universities, and public spaces, advocating for practices such as using plain language and modelling inclusive research. Finally, the book addresses the potential of digital technologies in history education, including AI, gamification, and blockchain, which can help mitigate geographical, socio-economic, and physical barriers to learning.
This publication is essential reading for history teachers, museum archivists, university professors, and anyone interested in history education. It not only presents current research and technologies but also provides practical guidance on implementing new methods, supported by statistics and relevant literature.
