Teaching history, teaching nationalism: a qualitative study of history teachers in a Polish post-industrial town

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse Polish history teachers’ perceptions of the role of historical education in the context of nationalism, class and locality. Drawing on the results of qualitative research conducted in the post-industrial and post-German city of Wałbrzych in Poland, we argue that teachers are not fully aware of the role of nationalist politics in representations of the past. Teachers regard these nationalist representations as natural and taken for granted. They are not only unable to assume responsibility for promoting nationalism among students but also reproduce a dominant nationalist discourse by using history to nurture their students’ attachment to the idea of a homogeneous and solidary nation that transcends class divisions and erases local specificity. They see their role primarily in terms of reinforcing the dominant structures of collective memory in their pupils.

Keywords:

• educational policy
• history education
• nationalism
• Poland
• qualitative research methods

Notes

1. This conclusion is based on a sample of the most popular textbooks used by Wałbrzych teachers, the vast majority of whom used textbooks published by Nowa Era Publishing House (Olszewska & Surdyk-Fertsch, 2012; Roszak & Kłaczkow, 2012; Roszak, 2015; Wojciechowski, 2015).

2. The interviews were conducted by Adrianna Surmiak, Karolina Ceven and Anna Mrozowicka.

3. In contrast to academic literature on nationalism studies, the term ‘patriotyzm’ (patriotism) in the colloquial Polish language has strongly positive connotations. It indicates ‘good’ national ideology and is often juxtaposed with ‘bad’ national ideology, or nationalism (see Jaskulowski, 2003, p. 24–33; Porter-Szűsc, 2009, p. 4–5).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Centre [grant number UMO-2012/06/A/HS3/00266].

Notes on contributors

Krzysztof Jaskulowski

Krzysztof Jaskulowski works as an associate professor at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw. He is an historian and sociologist. His research interests include theory of nationalism, popular culture and nationalism, political symbolism and mythology. He is a co-editor of the book series Nationalisms across the Globe in Peter Lang publishing house.

Adrianna Surmiak

Adrianna Surmiak holds an MA in sociology and a PhD in cultural anthropology. She works as an independent researcher. His major research interests focus on qualitative and interpretative methods, research ethics and lying. She is the president of the Foundation for the Development of Social Skills ‘Konsensus’.