HISTORY IN SCHOOLS PANEL
On the 12 September 2019, the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced that New Zealand History would be taught in all schools and kura by 2022.
Introducing the most substantial shift in the teaching of History in schools in a generation, the Prime Minister noted: “The curriculum changes we are making will reset a national framework so all learners and ākonga are aware of key aspects of New Zealand history and how they have influenced and shaped the nation.” But what will this mean in practice?
A year on from the Government’s announcement, the Canterbury Historical Association brings together a panel of four expert speakers drawn from across the secondary and tertiary sectors to debate and discuss the future of the teaching of History in our schools.
PANEL MEMBERS
Associate Professor Jane Abbiss teaches in UC’s College of Education where she is MTchgLn programme coordinator and Editor of Curriculum Matters. Jane has been a teacher and Head of Department (Social Sciences), and has worked for a number of years in secondary teacher education. She supports pre-service History teachers to learn to teach, which involves knowledge of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, and engagement with issues in History teaching.
Mikaela Hood is a History teacher at Villa Maria College, Christchurch. After graduating from UC, Mikaela studied at the New Zealand Graduate School of Education. She has spent time at Yad Vashem’s International school for Holocaust Studies in Israel, and is a graduate of their 2019 International Seminar for Educators.
Dr Rowan Light is an historian and policy analyst based in Auckland. Rowan taught in the History Department at UC from 2018-19. He is currently an Honorary Academic at the University of Auckland and education researcher at the public policy think-tank the Maxim Institute. His research interests relate to public histories of remembrance, commemoration, and repatriation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Defyd Hugh Williams is Teachers’ Refresher Course Committee director for Te Tiriti, Civics and Citizenship Wananga in Waitangi and Wellington. He is a member of the Ministry of Education working group on teaching NZ history. Graduating from UC in 1973, Defyd was most recently Head of History at St Paul’s Collegiate, Hamilton (2005-19) and regional rep on the NZHTA. He produced schools’ resources for The Press (1987-99), and is author of 3 books: First Four Ships; Ngai Tahu, the forgotten history; and Kate Sheppard a Woman of Note.
Date: 8 September; Time: 6:00pm (with nibbles from 5:50pm)
Location: South Lecture Theatre A4
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If Christchurch is at Level 2, the Panel will be offered online via a webinar. Please register for the webinar.
Please note that if Christchurch is at Level 1, it will not be possible to view the Panel online.
