A leading voice within Germany’s historical community is calling for mandatory professional development for history teachers, citing concerns over declining historical knowledge among younger generations and the proliferation of misinformation. Lutz Raphael, chairman of the Association of German Historians (VHD), emphasized the urgent need to update the skills of current educators in an interview with the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”.
Raphael argued that teachers require ongoing training to effectively address the evolving challenges they face, particularly in navigating a landscape increasingly characterized by superficial understanding and provocative, often inaccurate, viewpoints. He attributed gaps in historical knowledge, particularly concerning the Nazi era and the Holocaust, to deficiencies in the way history is currently taught.
The call comes amid concerning survey data released earlier this year by the Jewish Claims Conference, which revealed that roughly 40% of German respondents aged 18-29 were unaware of the number of Jews murdered during the Nazi period. Furthermore, less than two-thirds recognized the name Auschwitz and a significant 12% had never heard the term “Holocaust.
Raphael stressed the crucial role of history education in fostering democratic understanding, particularly given the pervasive influence of social media and the ease with which misinformation can spread. He cautioned against viewing this as a matter of professional politics, drawing a parallel to the fundamental importance of subjects like mathematics. A systematic decline in history teaching would, he stated, be “grossly negligent.
He expressed confusion and concern over the absence of a current requirement for teachers to engage in ongoing professional development, suggesting that such a mandate, similar to those in place for medical professionals and therapists, could be implemented to ensure a consistent standard of expertise.
