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 mean, it's a bit much to have the descendants of an oppressive regime making claims about what the benefits were. Ooh the railways, the education system! Our culture is so wondrous.

In my experience, the descendents of this particular oppressed regime are much more open-minded about the benefits that colonialism brought than the oppressors are!

Reported myself, quotes wrong post!

@ user127819

Good nuanced thoughtful and balanced post. It’s indeed not binary (as many up thread posters seem to misunderstand) but objective and dependent on your analysis and logical understanding as would be expected from a child. It’s just kids stuff so why the sensitivity for both extreme viewpoints? It’s not the actual “answer” that matters but more the reasoning behind the child’s analysis.

Isn't it a bit racist and condescending to ignore what some Indians think today? Was I supposed to ignore those who spent time telling me what they think they and their predecessors gained from British rule? Tell them they don't know what they're talking about? Dismiss their view because they clearly don't understand?

It was that patronising attitude of the British to the Indians at that time, that we're supposed to despise.

I'm most shocked an 8 year old has been asked to do this!

@marmiteprincess

I'm most shocked an 8 year old has been asked to do this!

The English curriculum is the best and most advanced in the world with high expectations.

@marmiteprincess

I'm most shocked an 8 year old has been asked to do this!

Read. The. OP. Again

She's YEAR 8, not 8 years old.

As someone who’s Irish, I’d much prefer to have English students asked the question: “what were the costs/benefits of British rule” Than “explain all the ways that Britain oppressed the poor Irish.” I mean, that would be a real challenge to students, to find a benefit, in Ireland’s case, whereas the picture as far Indian historians are concerned (and I did study this at university myself) is more mixed. Brilliant - love setting my students a challenge.

And that’s what education is. Challenging students to look at both sides. You don’t have to compromise your morality because the whole point of the essay is that you can, if you want, say that one side utterly utterly kicks the arse of the other.

I only wish my own child, who goes to a school where they are pushing a left-politicised view of history that I really object to, would ask something so neutral that actually does allow for critical thought.

@NowtSalamander If this is happening you could write to them or report to whoever above them can act on it (I'm not on expert on who to contact etc.)

This was recently banned/discouraged, schools were told/'reminded' they have a duty of balance.

If kids are being told something 'far left' is the right way to be or think then report/complain for sure. www.gov.uk/guidance/plan-your-relationships-sex-and-health-curriculum#teaching-these-subjects

I can't get past the fact I read this whole thread thinking "bloody hell, which primary school does her 8 year old go to?"

Totally missed the point. 🤦🏼‍♂️

I know - and I have thought about it. But see my above comment re complaining to teachers. I really hate it. We have a quiet chat at home instead.

One of the seminars we had to do at uni was to put forth arguments for & against things like death sentences, whether mental health exists (note the tutor asked me before if I could argue against even though she knew my opinion), euthanasia, etc
This kind of debate teaches you to find evidence against subjects which is essential when do essays when you are trying to provide evidence of your viewpoint - ie which has to be strong reliable peer reviewed & well as disproving the other side

A good analysis considers both sides of the argument. I find aggressively one-sided academia deeply troubling.

OP have you ever considered working for the National Trust? You’d fit in.

The whole point of the question is to encourage the pupils to research and feel like they have discovered the information for themselves. That's why it's very open ended.

I find it ironic that a historian thinks they can just tell their children their beliefs about history and and doesn't see the educational opportunities in their child discovering the information and forming an opinion in their own right.

This is my opinion and my child better agree because I say so. The child won't understand why! But allow them to research an open ended question and form their own conclusions will lead to a massively deeper understanding.

@saraclara

Isn't it a bit racist and condescending to ignore what some Indians think today? Was I supposed to ignore those who spent time telling me what they think they and their predecessors gained from British rule? Tell them they don't know what they're talking about? Dismiss their view because they clearly don't understand?

It was that patronising attitude of the British to the Indians at that time, that we're supposed to despise.

No different to the swathes of white BLM protestor telling black people what to think about themselves. There is only one right way of thinking to the left. They see no irony at all.

I imagine 'benefit' is one of their key words. Tasks like this have for fit in with the literacy levels of a 12 year old (and half of them will have below average literacy remember). I imagine (I don't teach history) that there is a standard framework where you look at the good, the bad, the sources, and evaluate? The question could probably be worded better, but you end up butting up against literacy in a lot of ways I can think of to rephrase it.

And yes, it's going to be more complicated than a 12 year old can grasp really, but most things are, what do you suggest we teach them until they are ready? If we don't start with simplified topics do you ever think they will be ready?

@Sheleg

It's like asking what are the benefits of having your house burgled.

This.

Not entirely believing an 8 year old would be given this essay? What is 8 year old year 3/4 ?

This is definitely looking at it from a teacher’s perspective, thinking about the kind of language we are required to use, @frlfrrubert

And I agree with you about the simplicity. I got so cross in the summer with people going on and on about how people didn’t study enough about the empire at school, and not considering the fact that the vast majority of people give up history at 14. If you want to campaign to change THAT so we can learn more about empire, I’m all for compulsory history GCSE...

@donewithitalltodayandxmas

Not entirely believing an 8 year old would be given this essay? What is 8 year old year 3/4 ?

OPs child is year 8 not 8 years old

I too am a historian, one moreover from an institution that is said to hand out Said as you walk through the door. Orientalism runs deep right through the fabric of British culture, and academia in ways which even those of us who think we fully understand the evils of colonialism are still coming to appreciate. Yet still I don't really have a problem with this question for a Year 8. Naffly worded but you would hope that even a 12 yer old could arrive at the argument that whilst some might see that bringing to India some aspects of western modernity was a benefit, the price India paid as a result of being othered and exploited was too great, even if it had not ended in the mass genocide of partition. So many learning opportunities. We live in sad times when empathy is in short supply and this is a perfect opportunity to teach the skills of empathy and understanding the unconscious bias in your own western colonial perspective.

Of course if the school don't take that opportunity then presenting them with some salient facts (and a copy of Said) is perfectly justified. To be fair to teachers the exam board syllabus are shot through with orientalist perspectives. Not familar with the ones for India but "The Struggle for Africa" and " China 1949 to 1980" are shockers. Even Ferguson has a more nuanced analysis of African colonialism....

I think the question is very tone deaf. And I agree that it's inappropriate.

I have no doubt that some aspects of the impact of British rule in India might be construed as positive, but it's utterly insensitive and inappropriate to phrase it in this way. It's a bit like asking how a woman has "benefited" from being raped, e.g. if the rape resulted in a child who she loves dearly. In a strictly technical sense, you could argue that she did indeed "benefit" from the rape, but it would be totally abhorrent and offensive to express it in this way.

I'm disappointed that so few posters seem to see the issue.

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum oh right read it wrong as thought it was a bit hard for an 8 year old

@NowtSalamander

Totally agree. The mindset of poor colonised people vs strong horrible English people is just as bad as any flag waving jingoism imo