The teaching of history in New Zealand

Abstract

Ever since stein (1757-1831) in Germany and Napoleon in France, a period of war and upheaval has tended to bring drastic changes and new developments in the organisation and content of education. A little reflection shows that such a process is inevitable, for war and social upheaval can seldom be divorced from deep philosophical movements, of which in fact they are one expression. In the Modern world all countries feel the impact of any new forces aid it is, therefore, not surprising that in recent years both the University of New Zealand and the Department of Education should have revised and modified their attitude and requirements. Two changes in particular are closely connected. In view of the decision of the University to cease to control the main course of study of all Secondary Schools and to confine its direction to university entrants, the Department of Education set up a Consultative Committee which reported in 1942. Among its recommendations was the following: "That History, Geography and Civics (with some changes in content) as well as certain new material derived from first hand study of community life and from social studies other than those just mentioned, be regarded as one subject, and learned as such, Report on the Post Primary School Curriculum, 1944, p.24. hereafter referred to as The Consultative Committee's report.