Teaching History in the Modern Russian Middle and High School: Problems and Perspectives

Abstract

The article considers the relation between the educational and developmental components in the teaching of History. It stresses the important role that this discipline plays in the general upbringing. The paper makes the point that it is impermissible to oppose the goals of transmitting knowledge and of forming skills, or to over-indulge in the theoretical problems in the school education. As History plays a leading role in the teaching of social sciences, it is necessary to include courses in Civics and Sociology in the course in History. The author notes the problems with the present concentric system adopted in the school course in history, and suggests returning to the old linear one, which provides more profound and solid knowledge. History textbooks should be based on scientific methods and provide extracurricular information, and their diversity should be preserved.