Historieundervisningen i den danske folkeskole i et uddannelseshistorisk perspektiv

The introduction of a historical canon and national tests is described by the Danish government as “minor necessary changes”. The article investigates that statement byapplying a historical perspective in relation to the status of the subject of history, its purpose, its disciplinarity, and the content of the tuition. There is in fact a radically new way of thinking about and practising subjects, disciplinarity and learning. The canon mentality is a breach with Danish school tradition, in which the exact content of tuition has been determined locally since 1814. It is a didactic showdown with the concept of historical awareness, in which the aim has been democratic education through insight into one’s own and other people’s historicity, with tuition proceeding from the pupils’ history and awareness of history. In the new subject of history the key concept is chronology and the pupils are regarded as empty vessels that have to be filled with a national history and culture.