As a professional historian, I found Mr. Godbout's remarks about the role that the academic study of history has in our society to be both ignorant and disturbing. Prince George is fortunate to have two institutes of higher learning where history may be studied. Both CNC and UNBC have good opportunities for those wishing to learn to examine the past with a critical eye.
History is not some mindless recitation of facts and dates - history has long been an interdisciplinary examination of the significance of events. My now-deceased high school teacher, Keith Gordon, made it clear in his fascinating classes at Duchess Park in the 1970s that to understand history was to understand one's society and the "so what" of our past. As one of my other mentors, George Davison, has put it - "History is like a rope composed of strands, threads, and fibres, each of which represent a part of the story that makes up the collective history."
Your editorial unfairly lambasted Dr. Davison for his justified criticism of government choices that emphasize some educational directions over others. One cannot help but wonder at choices that discourage students from learning to be critical thinkers - history is the discipline that teaches students to analyze. History is the discipline that encourages people to question authority and to learn from the past. History holds society and its leaders accountable for their choices. History is far from dry or dead. There are demands that come with studying history - one must read, think, and discuss past events and their context. History does not just come from books - it is also experiential and it comes from people and places. Historians are ever watchful for evidence of the past that surrounds us and actively seek ways to incorporate that history into curriculum.
The study of history is rigorous, but nothing of value comes easy.
Students of history will find their skills of critical analysis valuable in anything that they choose to do. History training is of value, not merely to society's leaders, litigators and its teachers, but also to its advocates, and activists. History is of value to everyone, and our society would be the poorer for not having it around as a strong discipline.
Sheldon Clare
CNC history department
Prince George
