A future without History Teaching ?

Observatory on History Teaching in Europe

We are witnessing worrying trends in history education. The 2nd OHTE Conference offers talks and debates on the state of history teaching.

History teaching has been an important concern of the Council of Europe for almost 70 years. Throughout the conferences, symposia, workshops and publications issued as a result of the close co-operation with education authorities, academia and civil society stakeholders, one belief is ever present: there can be no democracy without critical thinking, and critical understanding of the past is a major part of it. We are currently witnessing worrying trends in history education that are either politically motivated or system generated. Among the most alarming political deviances still encountered today is the misuse of history lessons for nationalistic or unilateral propaganda that serves the purpose of a restricted group of people. This results in a distorted image of “the other”, provides oversimplistic and often exaggerated narratives of the past and therefore brews conflict in many regions. All the while, there are reports showing a decrease in interest of future teachers in teaching history – either due to its complex and philosophically challenging nature, or to overloaded curricula, unrealistic expectations and demands and too few teaching hours to accomplish them.We are at the crossroads of several global events that could represent a turn in history. A new European war broke out and brought about global consequences. We have witnessed a resurgence of Covid-19 and a a new global outbreak of Monkey Pox. On a global scale, we have experienced one of the hottest summers ever recorded, with an all-time rise in temperatures, meteorological events, and natural disasters of extreme intensity. What could we have learnt from history to prepare us? What have young people learnt about pandemics and natural disasters in the member states of the Observatory? What and how should we teach the next generations about what we are experiencing? And finally, what does innovation in history education do to address some of these challenges?The 2nd Annual Conference of the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe (OHTE) aims to answer all of the above questions, by wondering what “A Future without History Teaching” would look like. The Conference also aims to present the findings of the first OHTE Thematic Report on “Pandemics and Natural Disasters as Reflected in History Teaching” as well as the initial findings of the General Report on the state of history teaching in Europe, due in 2023, and spark debates around the key issues identified.THURSDAY - 1 DECEMBER 202209.30 – 10.45	Opening session: “Teaching History, Grounding Democracy”One can only acknowledge the importance of history education, as defined by numerous Council of Europe texts throughout its 70 years’ work on the topic. Yet today, challenges still arise in the way curricula are developed; in the number of hours dedicated to the subject; in the way teacher training is delivered; and ultimately in how well the next generation of teachers are prepared and up for the task. Considering the mission of the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe (OHTE) is to provide a clear picture of the state of history teaching in Europe through Regular and Thematic Reports; distinguished high-level guests reflect on OHTE’s first findings on the topic and talk about their vision of history teaching and its impact on the future.Moderation: Ms Annette GERLACH, Journalist and TV host, ArteWelcoming addresses:Mr Bjørn BERGE, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Ms Norma FOLEY, Minister of Education, Ireland (Video Message)Panel:Mr Alain LAMASSOURE, Chair of the Governing Board of the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe Ms Tamar TALIASHVILI, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the Council of Europe Mr Eckhardt FUCHS, Director, Leibniz Institute for Educational Media | Georg Eckert Institute Mr Mikhailo MINAKOV, Senior Advisor, Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars10.45 – 11.30 Break11.30 – 12.30 Talk - “Europe of yesterday and of tomorrow” by Ms Mary KALDOR, Professor of Global Governance, Director of the Civil Society and Human Security Research Unit, London School of Economics, followed by debate with participants moderated by Mr Matjaz GRUDEN, Director of Democratic Participation, Council of Europe12.30 – 14.00 Break14.00 – 15.30 Plenary session 1: “Teaching about Pandemics and Natural Disasters: How can we Build on what we have Learned?The way a specific topic is taught in history classes provides insights into states’ priorities and the future they envisage. Is there an emphasis on the history of earthquakes and natural disasters in Western Balkan countries? Do young people in the Caucasus learn about previous health crises at school? How do teachers in Western Europe deal with these topics in history classes? While looking at the findings of OHTE’s First Thematic Report on “Pandemics and Natural Disasters as Reflected in History Teaching”, this session will reveal how these topics are taught today and reflect on how these findings can help authorities and stakeholders to anticipate the challenges of tomorrow.Moderation: Ms Chara MAKRIYIANNI, Educator, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Observatory on History Teaching in EuropePanel: Mr Raul CÂRSTOCEA, Lecturer in European History, Maynooth University, Vice-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe Ms Caitriona NI CASSAITHE, Assistant Professor in History Education at Dublin City University, member of the expert group and the History Educators International Research Network (HEIRNET) Mr Malte THIESSEN, Professor of Modern History, Carl von Ossietsky University of Oldenburg Ms Ann-Laure LIEVAL, Advanced Degree in History, History-Geography Teacher, Member of EuroClio15.30 – 16.00 BreakKey findings of the thematic report (video)16.00 – 18.00 Dialogues One of the main challenges today is to find multiple ways to enable people, especially young people, to acquire knowledge and skills to act as democratic citizens in diverse and rapidly changing societies. Over a great number of years, the Council of Europe has developed a set of models and methods to help teachers nourish competences for democratic culture. The Dialogues - &quot;Why and how to teach history in 2022?&quot; - a question that may seem trivial at first glance, will shed light on the reasons and motivations that reinforce the need for teaching history today more than ever.16.00 – 17.00 First Dialogue: « Why teach history in 2022? » Mr Villano QIRIAZI (moderator / contributor), Director, Education Department, Council of EuropeMs Bojana DUJKOVIC, Regional project coordinator Western Balkans, The European Wergeland CentreMr Alan MCCULLY, Teacher Educator and Researcher, University of Ulster, and member of the OHTE Scientific Advisory Council 17.00 – 18.00 Second Dialogue: « How to teach history in 2022? » Mr Steven STEGERS (moderator / contributor), Executive Director, EuroClio and member of the Expert Group on the OHTE report on the state of history teaching in Europe Ms Susanne POPP, Chairwoman, International Society for History Didactics (ISHD)Ms Margareta MATACHE, Lecturer on Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, and the Director of the Roma Program, FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University.18.00 – 18.15 Presentation video of the joint project HISTOLAB, introduced by Aurora AILINCAI, Executive Director of the Observatory on History Teaching in EuropeFRIDAY - 2 DECEMBER 202209.00 – 10.30 Plenary session 2: “How Will 2022 Enter History?”“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (George Santayana). In 2022, the world has come out of a pandemic, has entered a new European war and has been witnessing unprecedented climate changes. What should future generations learn about the year 2022 and its place in history? What lessons can help future generations preserve democracy?Moderation: Ms Constanze ITZEL, Head of Unit, House of European History, European Parliament Panel: Ms Monika BAAR, Full-time Professor – Joint Chair of History of Europe in the World (19th to 20th centuries), Department of History of the European University Institute of FlorenceMr Dejan DJOKIC, Professor of Modern History, Goldsmiths, University of London Mr Frédéric VAGNERON, Lecturer of Medical and Health History, University of Strasbourg Mr Elias DRAY, Former Chair of the European Union of Jewish Students and European activist10.30 – 11.30 Case study &quot;Manipulation or Outlook? Russia&#x27;s Use of History for the War in Ukraine&quot; by Mr Georgiy KASIANOV, Head, Laboratory of International Memory Studies, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland followed by debate with participants moderated by Ms Annette GERLACH, Journalist and TV Host, ARTE11.30 – 11.45 Break 11.45 – 12.00 Conference reflections Mr Simon DERIEUX-BILLAUD, International relations student, Sciences Po StrasbourgMs Aurore MADELAINE-DUPUICH, International relations student, Sciences Po Strasbourg12.00 – 12.30 Closing session: History Teaching for a Democratic FutureChair: Ms Marja RUOTANEN, Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity, Council of EuropePanel: Ms Evis KUSHI, Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Albania Mr João MARQUES DA COSTA, Minister of Education, PortugalMr Firmin Edouard MATOKO, Assistant Director-general, Africa Department and External Relations, UNESCOVideo message by Mr Pap NDIAYE, Minister of National Education and Youth, France

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