Parallel Histories is an academic charity that provides a brand new method of learning contested historical past. It helps college students navigate the historical past of Israel and Palestine, the Northern Eire battle, Putin and Ukraine, and the influence of the British Empire, and take programs on these it calls “nice” leaders, together with Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher.
Pupils are break up into two teams and assigned one facet of an argument. They research historic sources that may assist their view and debate with one another. Then, they change positions and see all the knowledge their opponents had entry to, and debate once more from their new perspective.
Helen Pidd and producer Courtney Yusuf visited Lancaster Royal grammar faculty to watch the strategy, as pupils spent the day debating the historical past of Israel and Palestine.
“By the tip of the day, usually, the tensions are damaged down, and individuals are making loads of noise and, in a pleasant method, arguing,” Hugh Citadel, director of training at Parallel Histories, explains.
He tells Helen when he is aware of the strategy is working its magic.
“The second when college students who’ve in all probability been arguing with the place they could naturally really feel to begin with, begin then participating with the opposite place. Tim Snyder, in his e-book On Freedom, talks about this tiny leap of empathy. Now, that’s a tiny factor, nevertheless it’s a large factor, as a result of it’s the realisation that, oh, I don’t agree with you, however I see why you suppose what you suppose.”
Parallel Histories is one in every of three charities the Guardian is supporting this yr, alongside Warfare Little one and MSF. With the horrifying improve in conflicts throughout the globe this yr, tens of millions extra civilians have seen their world turned the wrong way up. You possibly can assist these caught within the crossfire by donating to the Guardian winter enchantment.
Donate now to assist civilians rebuild their lives: theguardian.com/charityappeal2024
Assist the Guardian as we speak: theguardian.com/todayinfocuspod
Supply hyperlink
