Fear for our Children's Future: The Battle over History Textbooks in Divided Societies of Czechia and Poland

• In Event: Contested Histories: History Education and the Struggle for Democratic Resilience in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

This paper examines recent debates in Czechia and Poland over how history is taught in schools, particularly through two controversial textbooks. One side argues for a critical, multi-perspective approach to history to help students think independently, while the other believes in a clearer moral narrative that strengthens national identity. Despite their differences, both sides ultimately seek to protect young people from ideological manipulation—they just disagree on the best way to do so.

Author

• Ondřej Klipa, Charles U in Prague (Czech Republic)