<H1>No lessons on the Holocaust </H1>

<SPAN class=storyby>By Telegraph Reporter</SPAN>

<SPAN class=filed>Last Updated: <SPAN>2:25am BST</SPAN> 03/04/2007</SPAN>

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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Schools are dropping controversial subjects from history lessons - such as the Holocaust and the Crusades - because teachers do not want to cause offence, Government research has discovered.

The way the slave trade is taught can lead white children as well as black pupils to feel alienated, according to a study by the Historical Association.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=228 align=right border=0 hspace="0"><TBODY><TR><TD width=8 rowSpan=2></TD><TD width=220><CENTER></CENTER></TD></TR><TR><TD class=caption><CENTER>Ignored by schools: freed prisoners at the Auschwitz concentration camp

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A lack of knowledge among teachers, particularly in primary schools, is also leading to "shallow" lessons on emotive and difficult subjects.

Some teachers dropped the Holocaust completely from lessons because of fears that Muslim pupils might express anti-semitic reactions. One school avoided teaching the Crusades because its "balanced" handling of the topic would directly contradict what was taught in local mosques.

The report, funded by the Department for Education and Skills, said: "Teachers and schools avoid emotive and controversial history for a variety of reasons, some of which are well-intentioned.

"Staff may wish to avoid causing offence or appearing insensitive to individuals or groups in their classes.

"In particular settings, teachers of history are unwilling to challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship."

The researchers gave the example of one history department in a secondary school in a northern city which decided not to teach the Holocaust as a topic for GCSE coursework.
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The report said teachers feared confronting "anti-semitic sentiment and Holocaust denial among some Muslim pupils". Christian parents at another school complained about the way the Arab-Israeli conflict was taught.

"In another department, the Holocaust was taught despite anti-semitic sentiment among some pupils, but the same department deliberately avoided teaching the Crusades at Key Stage 3 (for 11- to 14-year-olds) because their balanced treatment of the topic would have directly challenged what was taught in some local mosques."

The study said too many teachers "play safe". It called for better training in how they should handle difficult subjects.

Emotive issues such as the slave trade can be taught too blandly, portraying Afro-Caribbeans as victims and isolating black pupils, the report said.

But when teachers down play the role of the white authorities in abolishing the slave trade, white children can become alienated.

The report came as Britain marks 200 years since the passing of laws which brought about the end of transatlantic slavery. The anniversary caused angry protests and renewed demands for a formal Government apology for Britain's role in the trade.

Earlier this year, a Government review of citizenship education recommended that all pupils should learn about issues such as slavery and the legacy of the British Empire. Children should be encouraged to develop their own sense of British identity to avoid social divisions widening between different groups, it said.
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I am starting to become offended by the fact that everyone in this world is offended by everything.

I'm offended in general.

I'm offended that I've lost my last 5 sit and go's..

I'm also offended that pokerstars is rigged.

On a serious note, once again another small step in the wrong direction for America.Why we have to cater to such a small % of people in this country I'll never know.

These events are very important parts of world history and should be taught to all kids in school,regardless of race,religion,etc.

yeah what's next? Do we stop talking about slavery b/c that offends people?

Missed the British part.. ^^^ still pretty ridiculous.

I thought school was a place that you learned that, just because you believe something, doesn't mean everyone else does. It's the first place where I learned that not everyone celebrates Christmas,etc.

These seem to be the most important things to cover, not the ones we should skip. I remember having a conversation in high school where a girl left the room crying because everyone didn't hate German people for the holocaust. We can save these for college, but I think these lessons need to be taught.

Secondly, if we're going to skip these (though it is Britian, I'm sure it'll be only a matter of time until the US starts this) can we cut things out like Vietnam? We got our ass kicked there, so I'm pretty offended that we don't just strike it from the record. I also don't like the idea that we dropped a nuke on Japan, can't we just say they surrendered, that way when I want to tell other countries they shouldn't have nukes, I don't have to feel like a hipocrite, since we've actually used them.

Slave trade - sucked but it happened.

Holocaust - sucked but it happened.

Crusades - sucked but it happened.

1) Why WOULD the Muslims be insulted by learning about the Holocaust?

I dunno, to me, the Holocaust really hides Turkey's Armenian genocide, so talking about the Holocaust hides Muslims horrific genocide in which over 1million Armenian's died.

2) The slave trade is really interesting. First, NO ONE IS ALIVE THAT BOUGHT/SOLD AFRICAN SLAVES in the United States or Britain. Hell, the "Underground Railroad" is one of the best topics to learn in history. Shows that not all southern White men were racist fucks.

3) Why would the Crusades piss off the Muslims? They fucking WON all but the first.

its all pathetic if you ask me. this shit all happened in human history and if its not taught, it will happen again.

maybe THATS why the Muslims dont want it taught to their kids...........................

History repeats itself whether people learn it or not, BUT this is an absolutely retarded decision.