The harsh side of history: a comparative analysis of teaching about national shame in the United States and around the World

Abstract

ABSTRACT As the debate over Critical Race Theory (CRT) rages on in the U.S., it is important to revist the different ways other controversial topics have been covered both domestically and internationally. In this article, we posit that there are successful and unsuccessful pathways for teaching about issues of national shame such as slavery, colonialism, and other difficult issues. We use comparative analysis to review how other countries have taught students about their own issues (e.g., Holocaust education in Germany, climate change education in Italy) and how the American education system (s) compare. Ultimately, we argue that the most successful and comprehensive way to teach about painful histories is with honesty, transparency, and empathy, with the opposite route (denial, shame, diversion) only deepening the wounds.