Cristopher Colombia in primary school curriculum

[Donotfitin]

So the school just sent the curriculum
for my DS year (Y1). They called him a “significant explorer”. I immediately queried it, because as a Latin American he’s seen as a very divisive figure who brought rape, disease, and genocide. In my country (Mexico) we’ve completely removed that date from
our calendar, and the statues, etc… have now been removed.

I‘m not against it, but I just want a nuanced approach. So AIBU?

Maybe they'll teach the kids to spell his name?

I’d be against him depicted as anything other than the murderous coloniser he was.

That was autocorrect but Colombia was named after him soooo

Yanbu. He was geographically incompetent, claimed he had landed in India when he was in South America, had slaves and treated them extremely poorly. I don’t get the (north) American obsession with him.

What will be taught about him? I would not be happy with him being seen as a ‘significant’ explorer when there were other far more competent explorers at the time.

Raise it with school - you’re spot on with this.

Which version? Cristoforo Colombo was his birth name, the Spanish called him Cristobal Colón.

@Donotfitin I agree that in this day and age there needs to be a more nuanced approach to teaching about colonialism (not jolly-good-show explorers like it was when I was in primary school). Maybe ask for the topic curriculum?

So Cristobal Colon? Or one of the other multiple spellings that have been seen?

Cross posted!

So unnecessary 🙄

Yes, that’s what I asked for. I also included an article written by the Mexican Commission for Human Rights about him.

Well who says it won't be nuanced?

Whether you like it or not, he is an extremely significant historical figure.

It was obvious to anyone with even half a brain cell, that is was autocorrected 🙄

But surely if anyone is a ‘significant explorer’, it’s him?

The school will have him there for a specific purpose. If politics comes up, then discuss with your son. Yalu if your first reaction is to try shoehorn your views in for everybody. It’s very unlikely that the school won’t be presenting a rounded view anyway.

Which is why I’m querying it…

Yes he is, but when we learned about him and the other conquistadors, other than a tossed-in reference to small pox, the teaching was very biased in favour of them being heroic explorers. Colonialism is a very, very complex subject.

He was an explorer. The colinising came just behind him.
I get that you do not celebrate the date and of course I agree that colinisation and empires were a horrible thing that has left us with a world to fix.
But I would not be tempted to go into a school in another country telling them how to tell a part of history. Neither I would accept someone just attempting to change the curriculum to present it their way. As it stands today, they are likely to speak about the facts of it and talk about the social consequences of it, from all angles. So the suffering you refer to will be covered. It is likely to be very nuanced, as this is how our society sees it today.

I think Christopher Columbus is the anglicised version of his name. He was born in Italy.

But they need to listen to the voice of the diversity within their classroom.

My son is partially of indigenous heritage…. His (and mine) ancestors suffered the consequences of his actions.

I'm also have Indigenous heritage although South American not North. It's an uncomfortable topic especially when you know your ancestors suffered as a result
The National Curriculum is here for an idea of what they will discuss and learn
www.keystagehistory.co.uk/keystage-1/outstanding-lessons/columbus/

So stupid 🙄

@MushMonster
He was an explorer. The colinising came just behind him.

Not true. This is not how the Spanish did it, Columbus colonised and enslaved people as he went.

The problem with human history is that it's colonisers all the way down. The Aztecs and Incas were also imperialists. There are very few complex civilisations with clean hands.

• @Cherrysoup I don’t get the (north) American obsession with him.*

We don't give a fuck about him in Canada.

@Donotfitin I immediately queried it, because as a Latin American he’s seen as a very divisive figure who brought rape, disease, and genocide.

OP I think kids need to learn about him because of the all the shit that he brought/came after him. I think it is good that you queried it.

You can't white wash history to remove figures you don't agree with. You can however just teach that he wasn't a great historical figure and what he did.

Yes, and that’s how the Spaniards were able to conquest Mexico… because the other cultures hated the Mexicas so much (the correct name of the Aztecs when the Spaniards arrived), that they helped the conquistadors.

OP, the way my parents dealt with this was to teach us the truth after school taught us the official version. They considered it important for us to know what the party line is as well as the reality of the matter. Actually most important of all was learning not to believe everything we were taught, to think critically, learning about propaganda and spin and vested interests and agendas.

I do the same with my DC.