Watering down the tree of knowledge
According to a Times Online article, a recent study shows that many UK teachers have opted to ignore George Santayana famous warning that failing to remember history condemns one to repeat it. Declining to instruct their students on such topics as the Holocaust and the Crusades, they have decided to put the feelings of their students above the facts of history.
The study, funded by the Department for Education and conducted by the Historical Association, shows that fears of offending students from certain races or religions (read, Muslims) as well as an unwillingness to challenge the skewed view of history taught in the students homes and mosques, leads to a superficial understanding of emotionally and politically charged historical topics.
Such irresponsibility is why Holocaust survivors and their supports feel the need to wear “Never Again” buttons. For more information, Encarta has articles on the Holocaust and the Crusades.
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