On Dec. 13 Lesia Ukrainka Gymnasium No. 117 in Kyiv hosted a meeting between The Day editor in chief and students from grades 10 and 11. The gathering was held on the students’ own initiative. Eleventh-grader Oleksii Zhmutsky had communicated with Larysa Ivshyna, who presented him with a set of books from the newspaper’s Library Series. Oleksii recently contributed an article on the inadequate teaching of history in schools and the need to popularize this subject among young people. The whole class read his article.
The newspaper and the books sparked a lively interest among the students, who decided to organize a meeting. Although the topic was tentatively called “History through the Eyes of a Journalist,” politics and our country’s international life were also on the agenda. The debate began as soon as Ms. Ivshyna entered the school’s assembly hall. Some of the most daring and inquisitive students began to ask questions, such as, “Will the current weak Ukrainian character ‘dissolve’ in the already-formed European one?”, What is your attitude to the political situation in Russia?, “Do your books promote studying Ukrainian history or are they supplementary materials for broadening one’s horizons?”
The Day’s editor began her response this way: “In my view, our project is unique in that we have tried to address problems that are very important for Ukrainians. I have repeatedly said that The Day’s Library Series is a supplement to the Ukrainian passport. The fact that we are exploring the unknown pages of Ukrainian history means that schools that are striving to educate citizens, should refer to such publications. Take, for instance, the article ‘Western Ukraine-Siberia: The Way of the Cross, 1939-1941.’ Has this ever been taught? Even if western Ukrainians have not studied this, they have heard about it from their parents and grandparents. In other regions, which do not have this kind of family memory, this part of history is completely unacknowledged. Or this question: do we use the ‘Second World War’ or ‘the Great Patriotic War?’ It is high time for our 16-year-old country to define our terminology. Therefore, I cannot say that our books are textbooks as such, but they are a way of promoting the concepts of a new approach to history on the basis of which every publication is an extract. Figuratively speaking, if you ‘dilute’ one of these books, it will suffice for several textbooks.”
A number of equally interesting questions followed: “What is your attitude to the fact that many history textbooks begin with the statement that Ukrainian history is one of the most tragic?”, “Which Ukrainians do you think are truly great?”, “What are the best ways to popularize all things Ukrainian?”
After responding to these questions, Ms. Ivshyna began to ask her own questions: “Who has been to Donetsk?” Two students raised their hands. “Lviv?” There was a show of about 10 hands. “Odesa?” “Luhansk?” “The entire map of Ukraine is studded with major historic events that we must know about and be aware of. Then you will feel completely different,” she continued. “Many Ukrainians feel that it is interesting for them to live in their own country. But they say this only because they know nothing about it. You have to travel throughout your country to be in constant touch with your history. This also helps you to feel totally different and, in general, to live an entirely different life.”
Summing up her talk, The Day’s editor said: “History should be taught early and in various forms, perhaps even through comics, collages, and drawings. Children should live not only next to Harry Potter but also, and above all, their national heroes.”
After the meeting ended, the students were in no hurry to leave. The most persistent ones were those who finally decided to apply to the university’s Faculty of Journalism or had personal questions for the editor of The Day. “I asked Ms. Ivshyna a few personal questions. For example, does she consider herself successful? What principles does she follow in life? What books have influenced her?” said Valentyna Khalabuda. “I always put these questions to all those who I think are interesting personalities and about whom I want to know more. Today I heard some new things for the first time, and a lot of what I had known before was cast in a new light,” Oleksandra Lebid continued. “For me, this talk was a brilliant confirmation of the fact that, as Ms. Ivshyna says, you have to read a lot and learn to think independently. “I came here because my family subscribes to The Day,” said Yevhen Koval. “My father always tells me to read this newspaper. And even though I am not thinking of becoming a journalist, like most of the people here, but a lawyer, I think I need to have a sound knowledge of my national history. Since we talk so much about European integration, we must have a clear idea that Europe knows about its origins.”
Commenting on the meeting, history teacher Liudmyla Paiuk said: “This was an interesting and emotional meeting that provided much food for thought. Ms. Ivshyna is a well-known figure in the Ukrainian intellectual milieu. I even felt that the students believed her words more than mine. There is a stereotype in school: when a teacher gives instruction every day, trying to instill copybook maxims in young heads, at a certain point they stop believing them. But the editor spoke to them as if they were adults. I saw that they wanted to rise to the level of knowledge that she had set. The results of this meeting will be evident in the next history classes: the students will be using The Day’s books as important supplementary material.”
