Historical education in Lithuania
ENHistory-related discourse and discussions are common in the present-day society of Lithuania. Even elderly people in a village would often touch the subject of history. They remember the long-gone past and willingly share those memories with their children and grandchildren. This tradition has been alive for years. Already in 1813, an unknown author, expressing his thoughts about history, wrote "There is nothing more befitting for an unhappy nation than to explore its history. Where else can it seek consolation, where else can it search for endurance in its present misfortunes, if not in its memories of the good times". It seems that elderly people like to compare the present with the past: they compare what is happening now with the situation of Lithuania before World War II when it was an independent state. They would often compare the present with the Soviet times of Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev and Michael Gorbachev. Apparently, the events of the past are a crucial point in the mind of the older generation. The discussions are especially fuelled by publications in the press with new facts or views regarding such important events of the past as the Soviet occupation or the exile of Lithuanian residents to Siberia. Furthermore, the topic of the Holocaust and the role of the Lithuanians in it is particularly sensitive and a heated argument arises every time when the persons, who collaborated with the Soviet authorities are remembered. It should be noted that ordinary residents mostly focus on the history of the 20th century and talk much less about the 19th century Lithuania or the times when Lithuania was one of the largest states in Europe. In fact, the latter subject used to be popular among the people in the period of the Republic of Lithuania (1918-1940) and the Soviet times as an expression of the anti-Soviet resistance.In Lithuania the historical memory of the older generation is currently alive. Their efforts to spread the knowledge of our history are determined by a few factors. First, in the Soviet period the public initiative to take an interest in the history of the nation and the state was restricted and the history was tainted with the ideology. The overall globalisation of the past few years has been rapidly eliminating the ethnic heritage and the historical memory which resulted in the youth's little interest in the history of their country. That is why elderly people enjoy the available freedom and seek to promote the values which they used to be inoculated with at the national school over six decades ago, i. e. in the independent Lithuania. They are willing to tell about experiences and fates of their own, their families and people they know. They encourage the new generation not to forget what they cherished and what is worth preserving for the future generations. In addition, such activities are greatly affected by an improved economic situation of Lithuania because it is possible to receive funds and publish your memoirs or historical studies. [Extract, p. 35-36]
