To think this was an inappropriate school task

[Lalalabrador]

My year 8 daughter was asked to write an essay today on the question How did India benefit from colonialism and how was it harmed by it? I’m pretty gobsmacked. I’m a professional historian and sad that something so intellectually bankrupt is being taught to young people.

I would think that is a pretty well-rounded question that wouldn't be hard to answer after even a cursory google.

Can I ask why are you gobsmacked that children need to learn about history?Perhaps question was not worded properly but I think it important for younger generations to learn about it.

YABU for not explaining what you mean by "intellectually bankrupt".

What's the issue?

Yanbu, that’s a retrograde way of approaching the subject.

Do you mean because you don't think you should talk about any benefits of colonialism? I don't think that's a very balanced view - it's ok to discuss some benefits, even if they were hugely outweighed by the downsides.

What’s the problem with that question? Am I missing something? I must be.

What question would you have preferred?

How did India benefit from colonialism? Like what kind of answer could they possibly anticipate?

I think it's a good question that will have her think about a country pre, during and post British rule.
It's not straight forward or black and white. There are many layers to the question and answers.
Like everything else in history, it's very complex indeed.

It's balanced. Pros and cons of which there are both. What's the problem?

I've a background in history too. I think it's a balanced question.

What's a 'professional' historian and what does 'intellectually bankrupt' actually mean?

I'm pretty sure my son wrote a similar essay in Y8. I didn't have an issue with the way the history teacher taught it.

India did not benefit from colonialism. There is no for or against colonialism. There ‘weren’t good people on both sides’. I want my daughter to learn the truth about the British Empire not a skewed, jingoistic myth of a Britain generously bestowing ‘civility’ on the poor ‘savages’ of the colonies.

Sounds pretty thought provoking to me. What's the problem?

Surely then your kid writes an essay to say there were no benefits and gives reasoned arguments.

@EarringsandLipstick I earn my living from practising history. I conduct research and publish papers and books.

I think the question makes it sound like the benefits and problems are equal and balanced. If i was a child answering it i'd be expecting 1/3 marks for benefits 1/3 marks for problems and 1/3 for a coclusion where i could give my opinion.

I know nothing about india but my guess is there were more issues than benefits

But the question also asks ‘how was it harmed...’ ?

Ah, so you want her to make her own mind up - but only from the parts you provide.

If she concludes there were no benefits to colonialism she can say that, surely.

I recently did a course via future learn on colonialodm. A very similar question Was one of the tasks. Surely if you're a historian you should know answering a question like this teaches critical thinking and debating/ argument skills.

It would be very simplistic to list the many awful things that happened. But pupils will hear counter arguments. Eg talking to an older relative they may say but what about the railways? You know the type of thing. So it actually makes the negative more powerful.

It also enables the children to form their own decisions through looking ta the facts. It would be really hard to come to the conclusion the overall net outcome was a benefit to India!

So Yabu in my opinion

@Lalalabrador yabu. There were short term and local benefits. I'm not suggesting for a second they outweigh the costs and that the costs went into for longer but they were there. You can't make history what you want it to be. If she's got a decent teacher hopefully they will say this.

There is a view amongst some people that colonialism was a good thing for India and we can never discuss the downsides.
Discuss this view with evidence.
You might like to reference a wide range of sources including non British sources.

Is that better?

@MillieEpple that’s it I think. The teacher asked for a ‘balanced argument’.

@Lalalabrador you can't "practice" history it's not medicine...