Historians called not to participate in the creation of a single textbook

A group of scientists and teachers published an appeal to historians with a call to boycott the competition for writing school textbooks on the basis of a single historical and cultural standard (EIKS).

The competition is held by decision of the Russian Historical Society (Rio), reports Polit.ru . The work of the competition participants should be submitted for approval of the RIA special expert council by April 15, 2015, and the textbooks approved by him will go to school on September 1, 2015.

The appearance of a line of standardized textbooks is said, “it will mean another step (and a very large step!) On the path to the imposition of a conservative, state-patriotic ideology, contrary to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the“ introduction of unanimity ”from above, to strengthen and, most importantly, to the conservation of authoritarian rule and the spirit of lack of freedom in Russia”.

“EIKS, on the basis of which they are going to write textbooks, is focused on the predominant coverage of the history of power to the detriment of the history of society,” the authors of the appeal write. They also give examples of various aspects of the history of Russia, which "are discussed in science, and are imposed on EIKS peremptorily."

“We turn to historians - authors of school textbooks and to academic historians, whom the leadership may oblige to enter the author’s groups, with an appeal to boycott this competition, the purpose of which is the creation of a falsified, but“ ideologically correct ”version of Russian history. ... We ask you to decide on this civil step, despite the career losses and the wrath of the authorities, ”the appeal says.