AN A-level textbook has been withdrawn after a County Durham youth worker said she was "horrified" by a question asking whether the treatment of Native Americans had been exaggerated.
Hannah Wilkinson, a church youth worker at St Nics Durham, tweeted an extract from the book in which students were asked: “To what extent do you believe the treatment of Native Americans has been exaggerated?”
The exercise, in the AQA-approved Hodder textbook USA 1865-1975: The Making Of A Superpower, also asked students to complete scales with “criticisms of treatment of Native Americans” and “defence of the treatment of Native Americans”.
She tweeted: “I do some history mentoring and while prepping for tomorrow’s session I have some questions for you @AQA.
“In what world is this is an acceptable question/exercise to ask students to complete on the history of Native Americans in late 1800s US? Actually horrified.”
I do some history mentoring and while prepping for tomorrow's session i have some questions for you @AQA.
— Hannah Wilkinson (@hannahcw127) October 20, 2021
In what world is this is an acceptable question/exercise to ask students to complete on the history of Native Americans in late 1800s US? Actually horrified. pic.twitter.com/zQRoDWy4DD
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Ms Wilkinson teaches history for students who require extra support at Durham Sixth Form Centre, according to the BBC, which first reported the story.
In response, Hodder Education tweeted: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We agree that this content is inappropriate and are going to remove this book from sale. We will conduct a thorough review of the content with subject experts.”
AQA said: “We’ve spoken with the publisher @HodderSchools and they’ll remove this book from sale and review its content.
“We’re also working together with publishers to ensure that new and updated editions of AQA-approved textbooks meet our commitment to EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion).”
However, some people suggested that the question was useful to provoke discussion about history and how it is recorded and that students should be encouraged to do so.
One Twitter user said: "Since when has it been acceptable for A-Level students NOT to question people's opinions.
"I am 'horrified' that you want to suppress open discussion."
Ms Wilkinson, however, welcomed the review.
It turns out making the national news wreaks havoc for your Twitter mentions. Rip🙏🙏
— Hannah Wilkinson (@hannahcw127) October 24, 2021
v pleased this ed has been withdrawn while they review. Serious q’s must be asked about how asking students if genocide was exaggerated was ever seen as appropriate. https://t.co/rVDGU9ubTz
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