“Unveiling the Forgotten Lessons: How British Schools Shape the Narrative of Empire”
At the height of its power, the British Empire was not just a colonial power; it was a behemoth that controlled nearly 25% of the Earth’s surface and an even larger share of the global population. Amazing, right? But here’s a little twist that might just make you raise an eyebrow—while the empire was often touted as a harbinger of civilization and prosperity, those on the receiving end of that benevolence might tell you a different story. It’s like being handed a “free” umbrella during a downpour, only to discover that it has a massive hole in it!
You see, as the UK grapples with its past—especially in the context of education—questions arise about how the rich yet tumultuous narrative of the British Empire is presented in schools. Do our history teachers take a candid look at the darker chapters, or do they gloss over the warts and all? This article dives deep into the intricacies of the British education system as it relates to the Empire, uncovering how curriculums are being shaped (or reshaped) in light of those pesky historical truths that many would rather forget. Spoiler alert: It’s a wild ride through colonial conquests, heroic narratives, and the not-so-heroic consequences of imperial rule. So, let’s take a journey through time and uncover what they’re really teaching! LEARN MORE.
At its peak, the British Empire was the largest Empire in history, encompassing nearly one quarter of the Earthâs surface and more than one quarter of its population. Throughout its history, this massive geopolitical entity was perceived by its proponents as a beacon of civilization, an engine for trade and building local infrastructure and prosperity, a source of military and national pride. Needless to say, however, populations under its rule may have had a VERY different opinion about things, and keen to point out a lot of things glossed over in popular history. In previous episodes of TodayIFoundOut, we covered how the national school curricula in Germany and Japan teach their pupils about the shadiest parts of their respective history- the periods before and during WWII. But what about good olâ Blighty? How do schools in the UK teach about the British Empire? Do history teachers also cover its most negative aspects? Or do they gloss over them?
