History book divides opinion

Controversy mounted yesterday over a history textbook for 12-year-olds, which critics accuse of glossing over the hardships that Greeks faced under Ottoman rule in favor of adopting a more politically correct approach. Representatives of five scientific journals said during a press conference yesterday that they have lodged an appeal with the Council of State, the country’s highest administrative court, to have the book classified as «unconstitutional.» Some 4,000 signatures have also been gathered as part of a petition to have the book, which is used by sixth-year junior high school students, withdrawn from schools. A professor of philosophy at the University of the Aegean, Constantinos Romanos, told Kathimerini that the book «limits the Greek revolution to a few lines and just mentions the names of a few leaders without any special reference to what they did.» He claims the book makes the Ottoman rulers seem less strict than they actually were, allowing Greeks to freely follow their customs. The Church of Greece has also voiced its opposition to the history textbook. However, 500 academics have signed a letter which calls on education authorities to keep the book in schools. Some of these academics defended the book at yesterday’s press conference. «The book refuses to pander to feelings of bigotry and animosity,» said Stefanos Pezmazoglou, a professor at Panteion University in Athens. «Most of the books that preceded it more or less cultivated feelings of rivalry and animosity, so that Greeks and Turks being eternal rivals becomes an axiom.» The woman who headed the editorial team that compiled the book said the criticism she has received is «unprecedented.» «The editorial team will not accept a correction from the so-called ‘nationalist lobby,’» said Maria Repousi, a professor at Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University. «The book is a tool, not a bible. We will collect the observations made by academics… and respond to what they have to say,» she added.