Commentary
An often-quoted statement about the enduring importance of history comes from the celebrated Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana. He said that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” In this context, it is always sad to hear that the study of history is neglected in our schools.
There is a great deal of evidence, much of it anecdotal, that Australians are ignorant of historical developments that have shaped the world in which they live. In the absence of historical curiosity, people do not know, nor do they understand, their own history and the roots of Western civilisation on which their destiny is built.
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