Your report on the teaching of patriotism last week notes some of the complexities about this area of school and, indeed, national life (“Britishness shunned despite PM plea”).
Steps that lead to an educated discussion about patriotism need to be rooted in young people exploring notions of identity and citizenship and what it means to live in Britain.
The Who Do We Think We Are? project provides teachers with this. Drawing on expertise across geography, history and citizenship has helped schools run informed discussions, debates and celebrations about this issue. No one is helped if the debate is constrained by “my country right or wrong”.
- Steve Brace, Head of education, Royal Geographical Society.
