TEACHING HISTORY, TEACHING PEACE?
& Online
Replay
Programme
Opening session: "Teaching history, teaching peace?”
ReplayThe Observatory on History Teaching in Europe is an intrinsic part of the framework of priorities and values defended by the Council of Europe (and the conclusions of the Reykjavík Summit), which it supports by drafting and publishing reports on the way in which history is taught in its member states. History enables us to understand the world around us, to learn about our identities and to open up to others through the knowledge we acquire – but does teaching history really guarantee peace?
The Observatory on History Teaching in Europe is an intrinsic part of the framework of priorities and values defended by the Council of Europe (and the conclusions of the Reykjavík Summit), which it supports by drafting and publishing reports on the way in which history is taught in its member states. History enables us to understand the world around us, to learn about our identities and to open up to others through the knowledge we acquire – but does teaching history really guarantee peace?
MODERATION
Annette GERLACH, Journalist and TV host, ARTE, France
OPENING WORDS
Bjørn BERGE, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe – Video message
Helen LOREZ-SCHWEIG, Deputy Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the Council of Europe, on behalf of the Liechtenstein Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
PANEL
Holly CASE, Professor of History, Brown University, Rhode Island, United States of America
Josep DALLERÈS CODINA, Member of the Council of Europe High-Level Reflection Group, Andorra
Alain LAMASSOURE, Chair of the Governing Board of the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe (OHTE), France
Pap NDIAYE, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe
Ms Aleksandra ROMANTSOVA, Executive Director of the Centre for Civil Liberties (Nobel Peace Prize 2022), Ukraine – Online
OHTE Talk - Timothy GARTON ASH: “Can young Europeans learn from the history of their ‘Homelands’?”
ReplayProfessor of European Studies, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Followed by a debate with participants moderated by Matjaž GRUDEN, Director of Democratic Participation, Council of Europe.
Plenary Session 1: "The state of history teaching in Europe: what can we learn from it?"
ReplayThe Observatory on History Teaching in Europe presents its first General Report on the state of history teaching in Europe, the result of a long and comprehensive process overseen by the OHTE’s Scientific Advisory Council to guarantee its quality. Taking as its starting point the place of history in education systems, the Report also covers a wide range of aspects, such as the structure, content and teaching methods used in the member states. It therefore aims to present in detail the ways in which history is taught in the member states and encourage stakeholders to take an interest in the practices employed. This panel is an opportunity to take stock of the work carried out throughout the creation of the report, its scientific and methodological approach, and its main conclusions.
The Observatory on History Teaching in Europe presents its first General Report on the state of history teaching in Europe, the result of a long and comprehensive process overseen by the OHTE’s Scientific Advisory Council to guarantee its quality. Taking as its starting point the place of history in education systems, the Report also covers a wide range of aspects, such as the structure, content and teaching methods used in the member states. It therefore aims to present in detail the ways in which history is taught in the member states and encourage stakeholders to take an interest in the practices employed. This panel is an opportunity to take stock of the work carried out throughout the creation of the report, its scientific and methodological approach, and its main conclusions.
MODERATION
Raul CÂRSTOCEA, Lecturer in European History, Maynooth University (Ireland) and Vice-Chair of the OHTE Scientific Advisory Council
PANEL
Stéphane LÉVESQUE, Vice-Dean for Research and Professional Development, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, Canada
Olena PALKO, Assistant Professor of History, University of Basel, Switzerland
Marko ŠUICA, Historian, Teacher, Textbook Author, University of Belgrade (Serbia) and member of the OHTE Scientific Advisory Council
Marie-Claire TUITE, Vice President of the History Teachers’ Association of Ireland, Assistant Principal, Dominican College Muckross Park, Ireland
Plenary session 2: "History teachers, teachers of peace?”
ReplayBeing a history teacher is often a vocation because the subject has an important social dimension, with the demands of education authorities and the reality of the classroom constantly having to be balanced. Moreover, this mission must ensure that the history taught allows all students to find themselves represented and included in the learning process. Finally, since the end of the Second World War in Europe, history teaching has been closely linked to remembrance and the promotion of peace on the continent. What is the reality of this? How do teachers see themselves and their mission? Do they teach history to teach peace, or is this merely an unattainable dream?
Being a history teacher is often a vocation because the subject has an important social dimension, with the demands of education authorities and the reality of the classroom constantly having to be balanced. Moreover, this mission must ensure that the history taught allows all students to find themselves represented and included in the learning process. Finally, since the end of the Second World War in Europe, history teaching has been closely linked to remembrance and the promotion of peace on the continent. What is the reality of this? How do teachers see themselves and their mission? Do they teach history to teach peace, or is this merely an unattainable dream?
MODERATION
Chara MAKRIYIANNI, History Educator (Cyprus) and Chair of the OHTE Scientific Advisory Council
PANEL
Alan McCULLY, Teacher educator and researcher, University of Ulster (United Kingdom) and member of the OHTE Scientific Advisory Council
Jolan REMCSAK, History teacher at the Lycée Gustave Eiffel, Mayotte, France
Ana RADAKOVIĆ, Vice-President of Education for the 21st Century, PhD student in History didactics, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Steven STEGERS, Executive Director, EuroClio – European Association of History Educators, The Hague, The Netherlands and Member of the Expert Group on the OHTE General Report on the State of History Teaching in Europe
Plenary Session 3: "History on the page: what future for history textbooks?”
ReplayIt is never easy to come to terms with one’s own history, whether personal, regional or national – especially if it carries with it immense ramifications that extend over several centuries and beyond national or European borders. Even in spite of increased access to information in the digital age, history teaching can remain a response to this daunting situation, with textbooks and other educational resources serving to reflect these stories. How are textbooks written? What choices and dilemmas do we face? How do we ensure that we tell the ‘right’ story? This panel of history, didactics and education professionals will offer their views on the subject.
It is never easy to come to terms with one’s own history, whether personal, regional or national – especially if it carries with it immense ramifications that extend over several centuries and beyond national or European borders. Even in spite of increased access to information in the digital age, history teaching can remain a response to this daunting situation, with textbooks and other educational resources serving to reflect these stories. How are textbooks written? What choices and dilemmas do we face? How do we ensure that we tell the ‘right’ story? This panel of history, didactics and education professionals will offer their views on the subject.
MODERATION
Steffen SAMMLER, Historian, Georg-Eckert-Institut (Leibniz Institute for Educational Media) and lecturer at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
PANEL
François DA ROCHA CARNEIRO, Vice-President of the Association of French History and Geography Teachers and History Teacher at the Lycée Jean-Moulin, Roubaix, France
Igor KĄKOLEWSKI, Professor of History at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
Dilek LATİF, Member of the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research, (Cyprus) and member of the OHTE Expert Group on the OHTE General Report on the state of history teaching in Europe
Speakers
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Featured OHTE talks
“Can young Europeans learn from the history of their ‘Homelands’?”
"Why history education matters?"
GLIMPSES FROM THE CONFERENCE
Conference videos
#LearnersFirst
of the OHTE Annual Conference
Download below the “Council of Europe education strategy 2030”
OHTE Conference Report
Conference report drafted by Justine Vizier and Joseph Peyrelongue, rapporteurs – students in International Relations at Sciences Po, Strasbourg
#LearnersFirst
OHTE general report
This first general report, produced by the Council of Europe’s Observatory on History Teaching in Europe (OHTE) presents a snapshot of the state of history teaching in Europe.
