#StoryOfOurStreet has really taken off positively, with lots of discussions amongst History Scotland audiences. At the same time, other aspects of society’s interpretation of local history have taken an ugly turn. Protests in George Square and elsewhere around the country saw some try to tear down memorials to past people, whilst others took on the role of ‘statue defenders.’ It goes to show the importance of history and its power to energise emotions.
On the positive news agenda, #StoryOfOurStreet has seen a range of people across our society reflect on the areas around where they live, looking for clues as to the past and how things have evolved. Most pleasing has been the schools who have engaged in the project, some of which will be featured at www.historyscotland.com.
As I have written before, local history is something which needs to be embedded in our history curricula. Too often, national and global events are not appropriately linked back to local history. Making a history curriculum is no easy thing as there is, in a History Boys-esque quote, ‘so damned much of it!’ However, the structure is all-important. Historically, history curriculums tried to cover a ‘Plato to NATO’ type approach, galivanting through time. What is included and what is omitted is, of course, highly contentious and politicised. Education can be, regardless of what anyone says, a political act.