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Old 02-02-08, 16:55   #4
hibs1986
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Re: teaching patriotism in schools

You've only gone and got me started!!!!
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I may be misunderstanding this (so do forgive me if I've picked up the wrong end of the stick) but from what I've heard and read, there is suggestion that patriotism should be part of the history curriculuum.

1) If I was a history teacher (even a Union Flag waving, warm beer drinking, English cricket supporting, patriotic one) I would be outraged. History is surely about the collection and evaluation of sources of evidence, and analysis of these sources in an attempt to make objective sense of events. I can't see any way that 'patriotism' can be inserted in that, without undermining the whole premise of the subject.

2) Teaching 'patriotism' is surely about effectual / sensible as teaching love. If the government feel there's an issue to do with multi-culturism and lack of shared values, then there's debate to be had about the role of schools in re-inforcing cultural values, and emphasising the importance of being a useful citizen. Whether or not people feel patriotic is, IMO, none of the governments business, so long as people are behaving themselves.
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