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.

‘How far would you agree that India was far more harmed than helped by Colonialism’?

would allow for students to address things like education and infrastructure without suggesting that these carry the same weight as the negative impact of British rule.

I agree it’s badly worded

@21growbags

So arguments for and against apartheid would be ok?

Or Victorian workhouses.

It’s possible to ask how a powerful group justified or excused oppressive behaviour if you want to look at a 3D picture but you don’t have to say there’s moral equivalence.

I’m not a historian just mixed race.

As someone with ancestors who died in workhouses I would still say there were (very limited) benefits.

The point of the question is surely to make you think about it - not to argue any equivalence.

I wonder why OP you think you are more qualified than the teacher (who presumably has a history degree) to decide what history questions children should answer? Empire is a standard y8 topic. My class spent last half term looking at different interpretations of Empire and finding evidence to support and challenge those interpretations in order to reach their own conclusions. They have looked at why people see the Empire as positive or not and whether they agree on the basis of the evidence. They have mostly reached the conclusion that it was negative but it is not my place to tell them that... They need to explore the topic and decide for themselves.

@Lalalabrador

Of course you are entitled to your opinion but it would be more interesting to ask people who actually live in the country .

I'm rather surprised that any critical thinker would believe that there is only one "right" answer to any part of history.

I wish I was more surprised than I am. Many parts of academia have been captured by woke values. Including history.

It was in academia that we first saw calls for no-platforming and no debate. Moral purity.

Wasn't there some benefit to do with British passports, or British citizenship? I can't remember now.

@Ihatefish

Funny 😄

It’s badly worded. What impact did it have perhaps?

My daughters dad is from a colonial country. There were no benefits. It remains riddled with issues and problems all stemming from apartheid and colonial rule (not South Africa btw). Benefits? I would have words with the teacher if she used that as a way of discussing it, there are other ways to frame the nuanced discussion that needs to be had.

OP, your reaction to the question is perplexing. History - even colonial history - is not all black and white.

Just a few months ago, Beijing rebuked Hong Kong because the secondary school history exam contained a similar question. sg.news.yahoo.com/history-exam-stirred-controversy-over-183519286.html

Are you really siding with China over how they think history should be taught?

Actually maybe the question should be who did it benefit? Who benefited off of colonial rule?

There aren't always two sides to everything - the gulags and, the Great Purge in the Soviet Union, no one could argue for that

Stalin & Co would have you believe otherwise!

@MaryBerrysChutney

Do people even know why we established "railways" in India? It certainly wasn't to transport people. Just to plunder the country and steal its natural resources. Colonialism was vile with no overt benefits to anyone but us. We were cruel, imposed our rules and culture on other countries and stole from them.

That doesn't mean it didn't provide a benefit, albeit one that was not intentionally conferred.

I don't think the Romans brought rudimentary underfloor heating here to keep Celtic toes cosy but we benefitted from this and other Roman innovations nonetheless.

If you refer to yourself a ‘a historian’ I’m not sure you can actually be ‘anhistorian’

Sounds fine to me. The teacher wants them to research the subject and debate both points of view, whilst providing evidence for their arguments. Very valuable writing skills surely ? A bit heavy for such young children maybe, but should be interesting.

@Lalalabrador

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.

That is your opinion. In Year 8 a pupil studying history should be encouraged to explore the history of India, including colonialism, and form her own opinions of whether or not there were advantages and disadvantages and what those advantages and disadvantages were.

It is not your place to tell your child what to think any more than it is the place of the school.

I think it’s a valid question.

I am absolutely gobsmacked at both the question and many of the posts on this thread. Those who say there is nothing wrong with acknowledging the idea that colonialism may have had some benefits for those who were colonised - are you for fucking real?! Do you seriously not understand how grossly offensive that is - that it’s akin to saying there were some benefits to slavery? As an Indian, I’m struggling to even articulate here just how demeaning and utterly repugnant this is. Colonialism was shameful in every way possible and to even talk of benefits is an insult.

@Lalalabrador maybe you could provide insights for students who want to be full time historians how to achieve this this, especially since you have managed a career change mid pandemic from the civil service.

@MaryBerrysChutney

Do people even know why we established "railways" in India? It certainly wasn't to transport people. Just to plunder the country and steal its natural resources. Colonialism was vile with no overt benefits to anyone but us. We were cruel, imposed our rules and culture on other countries and stole from them.

Then, yes.

Does India benefit from that historic railway infrastructure now, in the 21st century? That topic could be something to explore in the context of the OP's dc's homework.

“All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?”

From what I can see of the history my children are studying, there is currently quite a big focus of sources and interpretation. My year 7 child had to compare and contrast 2 paragraphs about the Wars of the Roses, written by 2 different 20th century historians. I think it’s important to look at historical episodes from different angles. You learn far more if you’re trying to argue against yourself, than if you just parrot out one viewpoint.

I remember having to write an essay putting forward arguments for and against fox hunting. I believe fox hunting is barbaric, but I was much better able to argue this point of view, having researched the perceived benefits of it.

@Bagamoyo1

From what I can see of the history my children are studying, there is currently quite a big focus of sources and interpretation. My year 7 child had to compare and contrast 2 paragraphs about the Wars of the Roses, written by 2 different 20th century historians. I think it’s important to look at historical episodes from different angles. You learn far more if you’re trying to argue against yourself, than if you just parrot out one viewpoint.

I remember having to write an essay putting forward arguments for and against fox hunting. I believe fox hunting is barbaric, but I was much better able to argue this point of view, having researched the perceived benefits of it.

I mean that is how history is studied...

@burblish

I am absolutely gobsmacked at both the question and many of the posts on this thread. Those who say there is nothing wrong with acknowledging the idea that colonialism may have had some benefits for those who were colonised - are you for fucking real?! Do you seriously not understand how grossly offensive that is - that it’s akin to saying there were some benefits to slavery? As an Indian, I’m struggling to even articulate here just how demeaning and utterly repugnant this is. Colonialism was shameful in every way possible and to even talk of benefits is an insult.

I don't think you can pretend that every single Indian has this opinion because that's not the case.

No-one here is arguing for Colonialism or saying 'well, that was a jolly good show'.

We're pretty united on the fact that it was horrific.

Lots of truly horrific things have unintended benefits.

I mean, I was abused as a child and that's had benefits. It doesn't mean I'm arguing it was a great time

Having studied History to a relatively high level, I completely agree. At best, it’s poorly worded and misjudged. I know the full realities of colonialism might be a bit “heavy” for Year 8, but its such a complex and multifaceted topic that I really don’t think that kind of essay question is a suitable way of assessing knowledge. It’s something that can be difficult to grapple with at degree level.