Some people argue that history is no longer relevant and should not be taught in schools. They might as well argue that art, poetry, geography, music and religion have no place in our schools.
Historopedia attempts to answer the question of why we are here on this island. It is important to know where our ancestors came from, why they had to struggle to survive and how they eventually succeeded. This helps us to realise how fortunate we are to be living in a free country where peace and justice are valued and human rights are available to all.
Ours is a special history. We have no major battles to boast of, nor any continental campaigns. We have no overseas possessions to explain or excuse. What we have is a proud past as a civilization, followed by centuries of endurance, perseverance, obstinacy and survival leading to eventual freedom. The fact that an independent Ireland sees us maintaining the same culture, attitudes and identity as our ancestors is our greatest victory.
Historopedia is the story of a nation’s struggle to preserve its culture, its character and its identity. In the book we have been able to construct a time-line for the children where they can see the progression of our people from earliest times to the present day. In studying our history, we accept that we are a part of something larger than ourselves and this helps us to understand our own identity.
In order to have a society that holds together, we need to have things that we hold in common. Some of us may have a common religion or a common ethnic heritage, but what we all have in common is the history of this country and our knowledge of it. When we all know what our country has stood for over the years, and when we appreciate the sacrifices that were made by our ancestors to maintain that culture and win eventual freedom, we can feel that we are a part of something very important and precious.
In Historopedia we want to show the children how a sophisticated civilisation developed on this island because of the Celtic culture and the introduction of Christianity. They will learn of the contribution to that civilisation by the invading Vikings and later by the Norman Invasion. They can see how the Normans allowed themselves to embrace the culture of the native Irish to the extent that the country couldn’t be conquered or ruled from Britain without armed intervention. Then, there follows the history of plantation, followed by rebellion, followed by repression, leading to further plantations. Finally, the children will read of the re-awakening of our pride in our culture and traditions leading to eventual freedom.
An interest in history enables children to investigate and examine significant events in their own past and that of their families and local communities. History helps us to understand the actions, beliefs and motivations of people in the past. This is fundamental to being at peace with today’s society and environment. History enables the child to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes so as to develop an informed and critical understanding of other societies.
It is to be hoped that Historopedia will help stimulate curiosity about the local environment and the lives of ordinary people. The reader can trace the development over the centuries of Irish music, literature, clothing, food, education, transport as well as art and design.
All history rests on evidence. History in the primary school assists the child in selecting and analysing a wide range of sources which can tell them about the past. They will find that evidence can be interpreted in a number of ways. They will appreciate that our opinions may have to change as new evidence becomes available. They will realise that there is nothing wrong in changing one’s own point of view if the evidence supports the change. It helps them to appreciate the motives of people in the past and accept that individuals and events should be understood in their historical context and not by today’s standards. They can respect a range of opinions and acquire open attitudes to the beliefs, values and motivations of others. It will help them to be tolerant towards minorities in society and appreciate the important contribution of various ethnic, cultural, religious and social groups to the evolution of modern Ireland.
Story telling introduces epic tales and myths that date from the earliest times. These are not evidence based but we included them in Historopedia because they are part of our culture and tradition and are as valid and important as the tales of Greece and Rome. Learning history in school also aids language development. It gives children the opportunity to develop reading and writing skills. It gives them practice in recording, illustrating and researching. The children are encouraged to record their findings in a variety of ways; in essay form, in interviews, in poetry, music and song as well as in works of art and craft.
In Historopedia, the children can learn that in Ireland, human activity over thousands of years has shaped and changed the landscape considerably. The world in which they live has been altered by the presence of people, farming activities, the extraction of resources, the provision of modes of transport and the construction of buildings. This can lead them to an understanding of why changes happen and why progress is good, so long as care is taken to preserve the natural environment. They will discover that much of the beauty in our land that we take for granted, has been made by the intervention of people over thousands of years.
In school, the pupils learn to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop good judgement. If our children are truly aware of Ireland’s history and the gains we have made as a people, they will be unlikely, as adults, to throw it all away by electing unsuitable and unstable leaders. Rather they may consider that helping Ireland to progress and develop by becoming politically active themselves is a worthwhile thing to do as well as being a privilege.
Historopedia is the No 1 bestselling children’s book by Fatti and John Burke, and follows their successful debut Irelandopedia
