What were you taught in school about your country's history

[Cowabungaa]

We covered quite a bit of Dutch history here in Holland. It started in primary school, with how the Romans ruled our country and what influence that had, the Reformation, Enlightenment, things like that. It wasn't portraited very nationalistic, not negative as well, pretty plain.

That was repeated in the first few years of high school, with a bit more depth. In the last few years we especially learned about the colonial history of Holland, our role in WW2 and WW1 (either being someone's ***** or not caring a lot about either side) and how we got through those things. It was pretty suprising how...honest it was. Sure we were rich and powerfull in the 18th century, but we were also warmongering bastards and one of the biggest slave traders around. Not even mentioning when we got to the subject of post-WW2 decolonisation of Indonesia, we wére assholes. It wasn't mentioned so much in the books, those stayed pretty neutral (just facts and dates and stuff), but my teacher was awesome incarnated.
Obviously we learned about a lot of other stuff as well, history was one of the more interesting subjects at school.

we (people in holland) actually learn about how pussy we are according to history, not that i mind... u cant be homeless in this country some im quiet happy with it^^

Seeing your age, just wait untill you get to the latter years of high school (well, if you picked history, and when you're either doing vwo or havo, I guess). Then you'll learn what kind of assholes we were, next to being pussies. Quite funny to see your own country being kicked down in history class

 

[Rabalicious]

Primary school covered Roman occupation of Britain, Anglo-Saxons + some about Vikings as well as Henry VIII and a little about the other Tudors and Some about the Stuarts including the gunpowder plot and WWII.

Secondary school covered Romans again, the Norman conquest, something to do with castles, the industrial revolution, WWI, WWII. As well The Wiemar Republic + Hitler, something to do with mobsters and the KKK in America and Vietnam. Although the last three have nothing to do with my country history.

 

[Trivun]

It went a lot like this:

World History - Chapter One: Beginning of the Earth to WWII.
World History - Chapter Two onward (twelve chapters per unit, three units,): America.

American History: America.

I hate our school system. I dumped most of the knowledge because it was, frankly, utter shit. If it wasn't "America is great" it was "America WAS AND STILL IS great."
I don't need that shit.

You make a decent point there. With my old school I learned all Romans and Egyptians and stuff in primary school (elementary school to non-UK Escapists), and at high school we did quite a lot considering I only took it for the first three years. Started with Medieval England and the Norman Conquest, then worked our way up to the Tudors and Stuarts by the end of Year 8. Year 9 we skipped straight to the Victorians and the First World War, and did a load about the trenches and stuff. Pretty interesting, actually, but then I dropped it for GCSE to do Geography instead. We never really learned much about other countries history though, and my brother's annoyed because now UK schools are doing the American Civil War as part of the syllabus. I mean, why? The UK should teach UK history and then do World History as seperate, and the same should apply to other countries (i.e. American History = America, French History = surrender monkeys/France, etc.).

 

[Zero-Vash]

I'm one who hates the biased of American History classes. I loved my World History ones though. So I have actually put more hours into learning the "up to WWII" bracket of history that is in the American education system. As for the rest of it, I could care less really.

 

[Cowabungaa]

I mean, why? The UK should teach UK history and then do World History as seperate, and the same should apply to other countries (i.e. American History = America, French History = surrender monkeys/France, etc.).

Because the world is much too big, complicated and connected to serve world history as a side dish. World history includes your own place as well, or more precise the country's role in the 'big picture'. British history, for example, isn't complete if you...well include almost the entire world. Brittain had a huge empire at one point and was majorly involved in two WORLD wars, ofcourse not even mentioning their squabbeling with France in the earlier times.

 

[cathou]

You make a decent point there. With my old school I learned all Romans and Egyptians and stuff in primary school (elementary school to non-UK Escapists), and at high school we did quite a lot considering I only took it for the first three years. Started with Medieval England and the Norman Conquest, then worked our way up to the Tudors and Stuarts by the end of Year 8. Year 9 we skipped straight to the Victorians and the First World War, and did a load about the trenches and stuff. Pretty interesting, actually, but then I dropped it for GCSE to do Geography instead. We never really learned much about other countries history though, and my brother's annoyed because now UK schools are doing the American Civil War as part of the syllabus. I mean, why? The UK should teach UK history and then do World History as seperate, and the same should apply to other countries (i.e. American History = America, French History = surrender monkeys/France, etc.).

yes but country interact each other and history change vastly from the point of view. For exemple : for the americans, they won the war against british, and make independance. for you in UK, you lost that war and lost a colony. For them it's a great day, for you it's a sad day, and it influence the way the history is teach...

 

[Mardy]

One thing I remember clearly, is that I was taught how they "bested" the english navy even though all ships were sunk etc. And I say they because I weren't born in this country.

 

[Random Argument Man]

Too much, Canadian History is damned annoying.

No way man, Canadian history is great. You just have to see the different perspective.

Well, most of the french perspective will say: Most of the english were douche to us.
The english perspective will say: It wasn't so bad. But you guys are sure troublesome.

 

[Impuls]

We covered quite a bit of Dutch history here in Holland. It started in primary school, with how the Romans ruled our country and what influence that had, the Reformation, Enlightenment, things like that. It wasn't portraited very nationalistic, not negative as well, pretty plain.

That was repeated in the first few years of high school, with a bit more depth. In the last few years we especially learned about the colonial history of Holland, our role in WW2 and WW1 (either being someone's ***** or not caring a lot about either side) and how we got through those things. It was pretty suprising how...honest it was. Sure we were rich and powerfull in the 18th century, but we were also warmongering bastards and one of the biggest slave traders around. Not even mentioning when we got to the subject of post-WW2 decolonisation of Indonesia, we wére assholes. It wasn't mentioned so much in the books, those stayed pretty neutral (just facts and dates and stuff), but my teacher was awesome incarnated.
Obviously we learned about a lot of other stuff as well, history was one of the more interesting subjects at school.

we (people in holland) actually learn about how pussy we are according to history, not that i mind... u cant be homeless in this country some im quiet happy with it^^

Seeing your age, just wait untill you get to the latter years of high school (well, if you picked history, and when you're either doing vwo or havo, I guess). Then you'll learn what kind of assholes we were, next to being pussies. Quite funny to see your own country being kicked down in history class

That covered about everything, though we also learned alot about Napoleone Bonaparte, William the Great, the start of the European Union and ofourse the 80 yeared war against Spain.

 

[sharks9]

we pretty much started with the war of 1812 and we studied WW1 and how Canada became more independent, how the great depression was Americas fault and now we're learning about WWII.
btw, anyone here german? It must suck to learn about your history.

 

[gh0ti]

Tudors in primary school, Normans early in secondary, followed by British social history (1899?-1922) or something like that, then at A-Level Russian history 1854-1953 and Anglo-German relations 1918-39.

I probably should add in something about Hitler between every other topic...

 

[Silver]

Oh, I love propaganda in school... It's even more fun over here, because it usually consists of "1500 years ago we were AWESOME! 1000 years ago we were really cool! 500 years ago, we were on top of the world! 250, yeah, we were pretty cool... 50, let's like not talk about this, let's talk about germany, and russia and stuff... Present, yeah, I mean, we're pretty okay I guess, at least compared to these guys... *Picture of the bad guys from American history X* Right?"

 

[Agent Larkin]

I go to a very catholic school in Ireland so all i'm taught is this simple equation in History=

Britain + Protestant = Evil bastards that raped and pillaged little old Eire for 700 years.
Needless to say I dont agree with that idea.

 

[Mr Cwtchy]

Did anyone learn ANYTHING about the Napoleonic Wars?
Because having done some wiki-ing at home, I learnt that it was pretty flippin' big, seeing as it took seven Coalitions to bring Napoleon down and involved dozens of countries.It also proved that it is NOT a good idea to invade Russia during the winter.Good thing no one ever learns from that.

 

[thedelightfulme]

I learnt loads of different history, but what i learnt at school...well, i love history, so what i have learnt at school, and of my own accord are now a blur. But i have covered the majority of british monarchs, world war 1, and 2, The Napoleonic wars, American Civil War, Vietnam, The Cold war.

I cant remember what i was taught...

 

[Idocreating]

Did anyone learn ANYTHING about the Napoleonic Wars?
Because having done some wiki-ing at home, I learnt that it was pretty flippin' big, seeing as it took seven Coalitions to bring Napoleon down and involved dozens of countries.It also proved that it is NOT a good idea to invade Russia during the winter.Good thing no one ever learns from that.

Some invaders just never learn that Russia + Your Army + Winter = Bad. See WWII

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Short version:

AMERICA, FUCK YEAH!

 

[Saevus]

Public school was Canadian history from European discovery and colonisation up to the turn of the century; a generally Eurocentric approach was taken, focusing on mercantilism, the conflict between English and French, the War of 1812, the path to Dominion, and westward settlement. Pretty much no colonial theory was involved (big surprise; it was only Grade 7), but maltreatment of Native populations and immigrants was given cursory attention.

High school actually contained little Canadian history for me: while Grade 10 mandatory history covered 20th century Canadian history with a strong focus on the 1914-45 period, noting Canada's continued connection to Britain while developing as a distinct ation, I did not study Canadian history in Grade 12 and instead took on American history and European history, 1450-1850. I spent this past term at university studying 20th century European history, and European history of the High and Late Middle Ages - if I continue, I expect to focus on German-Slavonic history.

If I did do Canadian history at higher levels, I imagine it would start to get into colonial theory and look at the roots of contemporary problems and conflicts.