A Nation's History as Part of its History Education : A current comparative study of Scottish and Swedish secondary school teachers' perception of history, and curricula

Abstract: This master's thesis explores the perceptions of the Short 20th Century history among high school teachers in Sweden and Scotland, focusing on how their perceptions fit within their own country's curricula's view on the same historic period. The study comprises two parts: an analysis of national history curricula and a survey of history teachers in both countries. Quantitative and qualitative comparisons of educational documents reveal nuanced differences, with Sweden emphasising a global perspective and Scotland maintaining a balanced approach between global and national narratives. Survey results underscore these distinctions, highlighting Swedish teachers' strong emphasis on a global outlook and Scottish educators' recognition of both national and global perspectives. The findings illuminate the diverse educational priorities and approaches to national history in Sweden and Scotland, shedding light on the complex interplay between historical narratives and educational contexts in shaping students' understanding of the Short 20th Century.