Seminars on 1939-1989. Half a Century living with Communism. Bulgaria Sofia, Hotel Serdika, 6 – 7 June 2005 Rousse, Hotel Bistra & Galina 9 – 10 June 2005. Seminar report.

Description

The Council of Europe has long advocated for changes in history education to promote democratic citizenship in present-day schools. They emphasize the importance of history teachers in instilling European democratic values. In 2005, they marked the European Year of Citizenship through Education to popularize democratic citizenship education. The Council of Europe has played a crucial role in promoting new ideas in history teaching, but there's a need to disseminate these ideas widely. History education should focus not only on contemporary events but also on historical context, helping students understand the roots of recent events. The emphasis is on developing critical analysis and interpretation skills. Modern European history should be taught within broader social, cultural, and economic contexts. The Council of Europe's Project on the European Dimension in History Teaching aims to achieve this by encouraging a comparative perspective and exploring key events from a multiperspectival viewpoint. The project focuses on significant turning points in 19th and 20th-century European history, such as 1848, 1912/13, 1919, 1945, and 1989/90. It aims to create educational materials like a CD-ROM, a handbook for teachers, and academic works to support history education. Several symposia and conferences have been organized around these key dates to gather insights and knowledge. Disseminating information about this project among history educators in Europe is considered vital. Two seminars were held in Bulgaria as part of this project, with the participation of history teachers and experts. These seminars aimed to facilitate innovation in history teaching and promote cooperation among educators in the MATRA countries. The seminars were well-organized in Sofia and Rousse, creating a conducive atmosphere for achieving the project's goals. The Council of Europe has long advocated for changes in history education to promote democratic citizenship in present-day schools. They emphasize the importance of history teachers in instilling European democratic values. In 2005, they marked the European Year of Citizenship through Education to popularize democratic citizenship education. The Council of Europe has played a crucial role in promoting new ideas in history teaching, but there's a need to disseminate these ideas widely. History education should focus not only on contemporary events but also on historical context, helping students understand the roots of recent events. The emphasis is on developing critical analysis and interpretation skills. Modern European history should be taught within broader social, cultural, and economic contexts. The Council of Europe's Project on the European Dimension in History Teaching aims to achieve this by encouraging a comparative perspective and exploring key events from a multiperspectival viewpoint. The project focuses on significant turning points in 19th and 20th-century European history, such as 1848, 1912/13, 1919, 1945, and 1989/90. It aims to create educational materials like a CD-ROM, a handbook for teachers, and academic works to support history education. Several symposia and conferences have been organized around these key dates to gather insights and knowledge. Disseminating information about this project among history educators in Europe is considered vital. Two seminars were held in Bulgaria as part of this project, with the participation of history teachers and experts. These seminars aimed to facilitate innovation in history teaching and promote cooperation among educators in the MATRA countries. The seminars were well-organized in Sofia and Rousse, creating a conducive atmosphere for achieving the project's goals.

Keywords

Bulgaria

Democratic Citizenship

Competences for Democratic Culture

Council of Europe

Communism

EuroClio