European Association of History Educators

After working for more than three weeks to research and develop presentations for National History Day, some eighth-grade students at Ames Middle School say they’re learning history is bigger than their textbooks.

 The students, who’ve never known a world without personal computers or microwaves, or sports teams where skin color isn’t an issue, say they’ve learned to appreciate the hard work, courage and innovative spirit of people in the past who helped change the world.

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BOSTON — “Think. It’s patriotic,” a bumper sticker once noted. That was Howard Zinn’s challenge to his students and readers. Because once people start thinking, they start asking questions.

“When I got out of school I began to learn things,” he once said. “That’s when you begin to learn. Right? You go to the library. There is nothing like a library.”

What they don’t teach you about our history in schools was the very stuff Howard Zinn considered worth learning. His perspective of American history embraced the standpoint of the unprivileged who didn’t write the history books: the workers, African Americans, slaves, immigrants and Native Americans.

RALEIGH — State educators have a draft proposal that calls for no longer teaching American history before 1877 in 11th-grade U.S. history classes.Instead, earlier American history would be included in United States and North Carolina history classes during middle school, with parts of earlier American history taught as part of a required high school civics course, said Rebecca Garland, chief academic officer for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

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Source: The Korea Times, 2nd February 2010

A survey by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security last year found that 56.6 percent of people in their 20s didn't know what year the Korean War broke out.Another study by Korea University found that only 62.9 percent of 218 respondents were able to clearly elaborate on why Dokdo ― or Takeshima as maintained by Japan ― was Korean territory. These "embarrassing" survey results may stem from education policies consistently de-emphasizing national history, especially in high school.

Scholars and history teachers are increasingly voicing their concerns toward policymakers' lack of consideration for history education in high schools.In December 2009, the authorities approved what they called a "future-oriented education curriculum," the essence of which is to reduce subject courses taken in elementary, middle and high schools. Aimed at alleviating the excessive study burden, the measure will go into effect for the 2011 school year.

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The special issue of the  Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs "European Modernity and Islamic Reformism Among Muslims of the Balkans" is now available online on the website of the    Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs is a peer reviewed research journal produced by the Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs as part of its publication programme. Published since 1979, the Journal has firmly established itself as a highly respected and widely acclaimed academic and scholarly publication providing accurate, reliable and objective information. Dowload here the table of contents and visit the website of the Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs for more information.