Slavery focus is putting black pupils off history, teachers told

HISTORY teachers must not devote so much time to slavery because it is putting black children off pursuing the discipline, the Royal Historical Society has said.

A new report by the society has found that the “seemingly relentless focus” on the exploitation and abolition of slavery can be “intellectually limiting and, at times, alienating” for black pupils.

Aside from slavery, the history of British black and minority ethnic (BME) communities were “often absent” from the classroom, the report said. In order to foster a more inclusive environment for black students, teachers must “go beyond these limited vantage points”, it added. “It is important that the history of race and ethnicity is integrated fully into the curriculum, rather than being relegated to a dedicated session or course.”

The report, titled Race, Ethnicity & Equality in UK History, seeks to identify why history students from BME backgrounds lag behind their peers in academic attainment.

It also examines why BME students and staff are under-represented in history departments across universities.

The report says that creating history reading lists for students which do not feature black authors can be a “barrier” for BME students.

Schoolteachers and university academics are told to “question the absence of BME historians from reading lists” drawn up by their colleagues. When compiling their own reading lists, they should “include and draw attention to” BME writers, the report added.

Teachers and academics should also “diversify” the content of their courses so that they are not “composed primarily or entirely of White (or White male) European authors”, the report said.

The society polled more than 700 of its members. It found that 86 per cent reported that in recent years their department had sought to broaden its curriculum. However, almost a fifth reported that such moves had been met with resistance.