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Parallel Histories is an educational charity, registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.[1] It promotes the teaching of controversial history in secondary schools through the use of a dual-narrative methodology.[2][3][4] In 2024, it was chosen by The Guardian and The Observer, along with War Child and Médecins Sans Frontières, for the Guardian and Observer Charity Appeal.[5][6]

History

Michael Davies and Julian Richer founded Parallel Histories in 2017.[7][8][9] The genesis came from a school trip, led by Michael Davies, to Israel and the West Bank.[10] With the support of a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Michael Davies developed the dual-narrative methodology for teaching controversial historical topics, drawing inspiration from Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine, a book edited by Dan Bar-On, Sami Adwan and Eyal Naveh.[11][12] Michael Davies and Julian Richer founded Parallel Histories to promote the use of the dual-narrative methodology in schools.[13]

Michael Davies led Parallel Histories until his death in 2024.[14][15][16] Bill Rammell, previously Minister of State for Higher Education and Vice-Chancellor for the University of Bedfordshire, succeeded as CEO.[17][18]

In addition to its work in the United Kingdom, Parallel Histories began partnering with Virginia Tech in 2022 to bring its methodology to schools in the United States of America.[19]

Activities

Parallel Histories publishes educational resources for teachers and students on controversial historical topics including the Israel-Palestine conflict,[20][21][22] conflict in Northern Ireland,[23][24] and controversial historical individuals.[25][26]

Parallel Histories also runs debating workshops bringing together young people from different backgrounds to debate different perspectives on controversial history.[27][28][29] It marks Good Relations Week in Northern Ireland through running debating workshops on the history of Northern Ireland in Parliament Buildings, Stormont.[30][31][32][33]

Partnerships

Pearson partnered with Parallel Histories to encourage more schools to teach Middle East history.[34] Together, they produced resources, using the dual-narrative methodology, for the GCSE and iGCSE qualifications.[35][36]

Parallel Histories' partnerships to run programmes with schools include with: PwC;[37] the Prince's Teaching Institute (PTI);[38] Christ Church, the University of Oxford;[39] the veterans' charity, Forward Assist; and the Naval Children's Charity. It also participated in the Erasmus+ programme with schools in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium and Denmark.[40][41]

Parallel Histories is a member of the Good Business Charter.[42]

References

  1. ^ "PARALLEL HISTORIES - Charity 1174481". prd-ds-register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  2. ^ "Lancaster charity calls for new ways to teach controversial historical events". ITV News. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  3. ^ Fazackerley, Anna (2023-11-05). "Schools in England block lessons on Middle East over fears of bias claims". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  4. ^ Rocker, Simon (2022-08-02). "The challenge of teaching about Israel". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  5. ^ "The Guardian and Observer Charity Appeal 2024". guardian.ctdonate.org. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  6. ^ Butler, Patrick (2024-12-06). "A guide to the Guardian and Observer's 2024 charity appeal partners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  7. ^ Parkes, Alison (2017-03-28). "Exam boards drop Israel-Palestine from syllabus as schools fight shy of conflict". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  8. ^ Rocker, Simon (2017-07-03). "A new way to teach the Arab-Israeli conflict". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  9. ^ el-Shafey, Mahmud (23 April 2017). "What about Balfour? British students no longer studying Palestine-Israel". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  10. ^ Davies, Michael (2015-10-06). "The Jewish story, the Arab story … and a plan by Mr Davies". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  11. ^ "Education and skills: Michael Davies". www.churchillfellowship.org. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  12. ^ "Sunday - Cremations in Bali, Teaching the history of the Middle East, Why wear the burka? - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  13. ^ Richer, Julian (2024-07-13). "There's no debate: we should teach critical thinking at school". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  14. ^ Gore-Langton, Robert (2024-08-30). "Michael Davies obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  15. ^ "Lancaster school pays tribute to pioneering teacher who set up celebrated charity". Beyond Radio. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  16. ^ "Michael Davies". Lancaster Royal Grammar School. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  17. ^ Casey, Michael (2024-07-21). "Former Harlow MP Bill Rammell appointed chief executive of Parallel Histories". Your Harlow. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  18. ^ "Former government minister to lead education charity". www.thirdsector.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  19. ^ "Parallel Histories". liberalarts.vt.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  20. ^ "How Can Europe Make Human Rights of Jews Count? | Human Rights Watch". 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  21. ^ Rocker, Simon (2022-08-02). "The challenge of teaching about Israel". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  22. ^ Shehadi, Lemma. "Palestine-Israel history taught in fewer than one in 50 UK schools". The National. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  23. ^ DeSouza, Emma (2023-04-07). "The Good Friday agreement changed everything for Northern Ireland's young people – so teach them about it". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  24. ^ Abrams, Fran (2020-07-14). "Is the curriculum dividing Northern Ireland's schools along Troubles lines?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  25. ^ "Farr pupils debate Dundas legacy". Northern Times. 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  26. ^ "Glasgow pupils go head to head with Canadian peers to debate the legacy of the slave trade". Glasgow Times. 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  27. ^ Pidd, Helen; Yusuf, Courtney; Cox, Joel; Khaleeli, Homa; Cassin, Elizabeth; Yusuf, Presented by Helen Pidd; produced by Courtney; Khaleeli, Joel Cox; executive producers Homa (2024-12-23). "A radical way to teach contested history – podcast". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-23.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Graham-Harrison, Emma (2025-01-11). "'I was terrified about parental backlash': taking contested history into schools". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  29. ^ "Unique history lessons teach both sides of the story through worldwide charity launched in Lancaster". Lancaster Guardian. 2025-04-04. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  30. ^ richardbuckley (2024-09-16). "Northern Ireland Good Relations Week 2024 Is Launched". Business Eye. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  31. ^ NICRC (2024-11-11). Parallel Histories - Good Relations Week 2024. Retrieved 2025-04-23 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ NICRC (2023-11-01). Parallel Histories - Good Relations Week 2023. Retrieved 2025-04-23 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ O'Hare, Columba (2024-10-02). "SRC Students and Future Leaders Engage in Stormont Political Debates". Newry.ie. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  34. ^ "Pearson and Parallel Histories to partner to encourage more schools to teach Middle East history". www.pearson.com. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  35. ^ "GCSE: New Israel-Palestine resources to help history teachers|Tes". www.tes.com. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  36. ^ "Introducing a new way to teach Middle East History at GCSE | Pearson qualifications". qualifications.pearson.com. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  37. ^ "Public speaking mentoring with PwC – Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School". bishophatfield.herts.sch.uk. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  38. ^ "Innovation in the History classroom | The PTI". www.ptieducation.org. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  39. ^ "Annual Report of the Equality & Diversity Committee 2023–24 | Christ Church, University of Oxford". www.chch.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  40. ^ "Parallel Histories goes Dublin – Europaschule Langerwehe Gesamtschule". www.ge-langerwehe.de (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  41. ^ "PROJET ERASMUS+ « PARALLEL HISTORIES » : C'EST PARTI ! - ERASMUS+ « PARALLEL HISTORIES » - Lycée Frédéric Faÿs". 2023-09-30. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  42. ^ Peatman, Ellie (2021-05-06). "Parallel Histories". Good Business Charter. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
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