Students deserve to learn the full truth about their country’s past—including the painful parts. Sanitized history leads to ignorance, nationalism, and repeated mistakes. Only by understanding past injustices can societies build a more honest, inclusive future. Education must reflect reality, not patriotism.
While history should be honest, it must also be constructive. Constantly focusing on shame and guilt can lead to division and resentment. It’s important to acknowledge past wrongs, but also to highlight progress and shared values. The goal of education is not to assign blame, but to inspire responsible citizenship.