History
On January 5, 1906, a group of history teachers and academics met in Central London to discuss the proposal from Miss M. A. Howard that they establish "an association to co-ordinate the efforts of all those working in England towards the improvement of history teaching in our schools." The aims Miss Howard identified for such an association were to be:
- A place for history teachers to get advice on syllabus, textbooks and method
- A means of keeping teachers in school in touch with the work of the universities
- A body to bring pressure to bear on educational authorities and examining bodies
- A body to persuade publishers to bring out cheap editions of good books and illustrations for use in schools
The meeting agreed to act upon Miss Howard’s proposal, and in closing the meeting Professor Pollard gave a wider remit for the new association: that history should be properly recognised by universities and that history should be properly taught in our schools.
This became the spark that formally founded the Historical Association on May 19, 1906. The first published aims were:
- The collection of information as to existing systems of historical teaching at home and abroad, by getting together printed books, pamphlets and other materials, and by correspondence
- The distribution of information amongst the members of the Association as to methods of teaching and aids to teaching (viz. maps, illustrations, text books, etc.)
- The encouragement of local centres for the discussion of questions relative to the study and teaching of history
- The representation on the needs and interests of the study of history and of the opinion of its teachers to governing bodies, government departments, and other authorities having control over education
- Co-operation for common objects with the English Association, the Geographical Association, the Modern Language Association and the Classical Association.
The Association’s aims have remained substantially unchanged and the aims stated in the Historical Association’s Charter closely echo these sentiments.
By 1917 the constitution was changed to incorporate non-professional interest in the subject. Admission was "open to all persons interested in the study and teaching of history".
The Association quickly grew in the post-war years and by the early 1950s had over 70 active branches and more than 8000 members.
The Association expressed concerns of lack of history educations to students.
Read more about this topic: Historical Association
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“It would be naive to think that peace and justice can be achieved easily. No set of rules or study of history will automatically resolve the problems.... However, with faith and perseverance,... complex problems in the past have been resolved in our search for justice and peace. They can be resolved in the future, provided, of course, that we can think of five new ways to measure the height of a tall building by using a barometer.”
—Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)
“The basic idea which runs right through modern history and modern liberalism is that the public has got to be marginalized. The general public are viewed as no more than ignorant and meddlesome outsiders, a bewildered herd.”
—Noam Chomsky (b. 1928)
“Every generation rewrites the past. In easy times history is more or less of an ornamental art, but in times of danger we are driven to the written record by a pressing need to find answers to the riddles of today.... In times of change and danger when there is a quicksand of fear under men’s reasoning, a sense of continuity with generations gone before can stretch like a lifeline across the scary present and get us past that idiot delusion of the exceptional Now that blocks good thinking.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)