**The study of history in schools isn't neutral. It feeds into student's perceptions of their country, themselves, and the place of both on a global scale. Wilfully ignoring the Western world's [history of colonisation] (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z7g66v4) is damaging.** - I can't speak for the experience of those who were educated in the US, but growing up in the UK, my history curriculum consisted almost exclusively of the Tudors and the Cold War. I think I learnt about both areas multiple times at different educational stages. The official [UK gov guidelines] (https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2019-09-02.284393.h&s=british+empire+section) say that it's optional for schools to teach about the British Empire and colonialism - but there's no penalty if they don't and no set period of focus. It can consist of just one lesson. - Education is always political - it forms a bedrock for an understanding of the world. And there is an extent to which it will inevitably be propaganda. It's like that classic quote, "history is always written by the victors." But having whole periods of history pretty much written out of the curriculum seems crazy. - Learning about things like colonialism and the empire helps to [foster inclusive ideas] (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/05/britain-colonial-history-curriculum-racism-migration) about citizenship. We can understand that people who came to the UK from former colonies, for example, did so as citizens, not immigrants. Being educated in-depth about these things feeds into less limited ideas of national identity. - As it is - it's telling that in the UK (the perspective I'm speaking from), only [13.8%] (https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/workforce-and-business/workforce-diversity/school-teacher-workforce/latest#by-ethnicity) of teachers come from minority ethnic backgrounds, and [as of 2018] (https://wonkhe.com/blogs/why-is-history-in-the-uk-so-white/), a whopping 93.7% of historians are white. - Overall - there will inevitably be a degree of victor's bias and willful suppression of that which makes a country look bad in the preservation of 'history'. But when it comes to the British Empire and colonialism, avoidance isn't the tack here - there should be room for debate and critique in educational settings.

**Decolonising the curriculum will teach us about colonialism** There are two very different ways in which to interpret this opinion, both of which I have strong but opposing views of. - I strongly agree with the idea that colonialism should not be removed from the curriculum in that it should be taught to students from a more objective point of view, so as not to glorify the actions of colonizers such as Columbus. - The atrocities committed by the US and UK and other western countries in the era of colonialism should not be forgotten or hidden. - However, what I first assumed this question was referring to, is that there is currently a wave across the West which calls for the 'decolonization of the curriculum'. - This notion does not call for colonialism to be erased from history lessons and forgotten about. - Rather, it refers to the inclusion of more black and minority ethnic academics in the teaching curriculum both in teaching positions and reading lists. - In doing so this would avoid the white-washing of history which lead to colonialism being ignored or glamorized in classrooms around the western world. - It arose from student's concerns over the narrowness of their curriculums in featuring almost exclusively white male scholars and historical figures, which is viewed as a direct consequence and lingering remnant of colonialism still very present in today's society. - I am a huge advocate for decolonizing the curriculum in this sense, for greater diversity will challenge ideas, power relations, and give us a more accurate and complete picture of the world.

The whole history of both the UK and the USA is one of colonialism. The British Isles have been colonised umpteen times in their history. The Celts colonised it from the Beaker people, the Romans Colonised it, then the Anglo-Saxons, then the Vikings, then the Normans etc. The USA was founded by colonists who sought to break free and have since then begun to colonise other parts of the world such as in the Caribbean and Pacific. I don't even know how one could teach their histories and not include the concept of colonialism?