History education and democracy

Resumo

The foundations of history education can be found in historiography and educational sciences. However, advances in historical research and education are rarely incorporated into history teaching or are incorporated very slowly. This chapter starts with an overview of the evolution of different approaches to history education. Then, it discusses some of the most relevant educational contributions developed during the 20th century. Finally, it examines the current situation in history education, contrasting the hegemonic model that continues school traditions and routines of the past that were teacher-centered with an alternative model committed to the democratization of education and society. The changes in history education in the second half of the 20th century were related to cultural and sociopolitical changes that took place after the Second World War, on the one hand, and to the new historiographic approaches that questioned historicism, on the other. Today, with the multiple challenges posed by the ascendance of autocratic regimes in many parts of the world, it is relevant to discuss the role of history education in promoting more democratic societies. Next, it describes the main trends in history education theory and practice during the 20th century. On the one hand is the traditional model of history education based on a teacher-centered pedagogy, rote memorization, and a master narrative that emphasizes the official story of nation-states. History education helps to understand relationships between causes and consequences and assess to what extent different situations of the present are the outcome of past decisions.