Język Polski
English
The subject of the Shoah in Polish School’s textbooks
Hanna Węgrzynek
Abstract
On December 23, 2008, the minister of education approved new core curricula for all types of schools. The changes resultant from this decisions has been fully implemented within six years from 2009 to 2015. The subject taught in primary schools is “History and Society”. Owing to the small number of history lessons, and the young age of students, modern history is discussed in a very superficial manner and usually without referring to the international context. It is not surprising, then, that the subject of the Shoah appears to a very limited extent, only as part of a single subject “Poland in WWII”. It is a matter of concern that modern history has been removed from the curriculum of lower secondary school (gimnazjum), which is the last level of compulsory education. The questions associated with events later than 1918 are to be discussed only in upper secondary schools (grammar schools, technical secondary schools and vocational schools). What it amounts to is that students are going to study the full course of Polish and world history only once and it is no opportunity of grading knowledge. What is more the recommendations for upper secondary schools are rather vague, and it has not been specified what specific information should be conveyed in the classroom. At the moment, many syllabi and textbooks present the subject of the Shoah in a fragmentary and haphazard manner, although an important progress has been made during last 20 years. The objective which should be adopted is not to write extensive chapters on the fate of Jews during WWII, but rather to create a synthetic module of information, which would enable students to learn basic facts and realise the magnitude and cruelty of those tragic events. There are strong reasons for concern that changes in educational system made in 2008 – 2015 has been contributed to a significant deterioration of educational standards, also in the context of Shoah education.
Keywords:
Shoah, Holocaust, education, history, textbook, World War IIDetails
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