What does it mean for a society to lose its educational memory? In a powerful opinion piece in de Volkskrant, ESHCC scholar Tina van der Vlies and Hilda Amsing (Professor of Dutch Educational History at the University of Groningen) raise this pressing question.
They argue that the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is not only cutting back on education, but also on its memory. Due to discontinued funding, the National Education Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of educational heritage, is now being forced to close its doors. The tangible memory of 150 years of educational history is on the verge of disappearing forever. A loss they describe as not only culturally and historically irresponsible, but even a threat to democracy.
“What kind of country casually erases 150 years of educational history, right at a moment when it must redefine what democracy and citizenship mean? Losing our educational heritage is not a side issue. It’s a warning sign. A society that erases its educational memory will soon no longer know who it is, let alone where it’s going.”
According to the authors, the museum offers more than just a glimpse into a dusty past, it offers critical reflection and tools for the future. They describe it as both a laboratory and a compass: a workspace for improving education, but it also acts as a mirror. Research has shown that the ideas we absorb in school shape our lives long after we leave the classroom, and museum visitors are invited to reflect critically on these ideas.
The op-ed is co-signed by prominent Dutch historians from various universities, all experts in education and culture, including James Kennedy, Inger Leemans, Henk te Velde, and Geert ten Dam. Together, they call for the preservation of the museum, emphasizing that educational heritage is more than a collection of old objects, it helps us understand where we come from and who we are. The collection includes experimental teaching machines, Nazi youth propaganda, colonial school posters, and historical textbooks.
“Preserving this heritage allows us to understand and critically question the past. Citizenship and democracy can only thrive if we are aware of the roots on which they are built.”
If the Education Museum, which also serves as a living knowledge institution, is shut down, recovery will be nearly impossible. Van der Vlies and Amsing stress that in a time of educational reforms and social challenges, deep insight into our educational past is more crucial than ever. Without it, we risk losing our way in the challenges the future will bring.
“Our educational past is not a footnote, it is the key to understanding, awareness, and future-oriented thinking. Without that rearview mirror, we drive blindly into the future.”
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Read the full opinion piece in de Volkskrant (in Dutch): Voorkom de sluiting van het onderwijsmuseum – erfgoed dat essentieel is voor de democratie.
