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The following twitter post accompanies this episode of The Cradock Four.https://mobile.twitter.com/valavoosh/status/1276826105740169218The historian, Zikhona Valela, joins us to talk about the Cradock Four and, more specifically, misinformation around the supposed famous photo of the Cradock Four. Zikhona tells the story of the four men who were murdered on June 27th, 1985. How did it happen that two of the four men, and the trauma of their families, were actually erased from the historical record? Why do we continue sharing convenient narratives that are, on closer inspection, inaccurate and untrue? Zikhona helps us to piece together some of the missing parts of the Cradock Four. We also consider some of the failures of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).Some of the questions asked: Who were Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli? What motivated Zikhona to fight misconceptions about the past? Is the South African public apathetic about their past? How should we go about dispelling misinformation about the past? What is missing from the conventional narrative of the Cradock Four? How do we do the story of the Cradock Four justice? Is the 1980s a turning point in South African history? How did the United Democratic Front (UDF) come into existence? Is the murders of Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli a case of mistaken identity? How does the supposed photo of the Cradock Four perpetuate a false narrative? How did it happen that Mbulelo Goniwe and Madoda Jacob were erased from history? Who took the photograph of the Cradock Four? When was it taken? The importance of crediting photographers What did the families of the Cradock Four know before truths were revealed at the TRC? Would the truth about the Cradock Four have come to light without the perpetrators testifying before the TRC? Why did the Mbeki government not proceed with TRC recommendations? Why was the late 1980s and early 1990s more violent than earlier decades? Why would some people think of Nelson Mandela as a sell-out? What were some of the failures of the TRC? What should the lesson be that we take from the story of the Cradock Four? Follow Zikhona Valela on twitter @valavoosh. Send questions and suggestions to William H Palk at @WilliamHPalk and Colin du Plessis at @C_duPlessis.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

Join us for a conversation with Prof Sean McMeekin on his new book Stalin's War: A New History of World War II. This is a very timely discussion in light of the unfolding war in Ukraine.Some of the points of discussion: How is Stalin’s War different from the conventional Hitler-centric account of World War II? How is it possible to even write a new history of World War II 77 years after the fact? Is the way we teach World War II unbalanced? How likely was the Hitler-Stalin pact? What are the main differences between fascism and communism? How much of a surprise was it when Germany invaded the Soviet Union? How much of the Nazi defeat can be attributed to Stalin’s planning? What are the gaps in the conventional Hitler-centric account of the lead-up to the outbreak of World War II? Are there similarities between the invasion of Poland before World War II and the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine? What about Japan’s role in the outbreak of World War II? What are the circumstances around “Poland’s betrayal” at Tehran? What did Stalin want to get out of World War II? Is Stalin a model for Putin? Is Putin trying to establish the Soviet Union? Why didn’t NATO seize to exist when the Soviet Union collapsed? Support the show

Michael joins us again to challenge some widely held beliefs about the causes of WWI. The long-term causes of World War One are often conveniently taught using the acronym MAIN, which stands for militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. It is often argued that the presence of these ingredients in Europe made the First World War inevitable, or to use a term Michael taught us, overdetermined.  But by looking at each one of these factors, we learn that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism might have only really come to life because of the war itself! If you are comfortable with the conventional narrative and you want to keep MAIN as the centerpiece of your WWI causes, we suggest you do not listen to this episode!Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In this episode we explore Civic Online Reasoning in more depth. We are joined by Dr Joel Breakstone of the Stanford History Education Group (SHEG). This is in an effort to effectively fight misinformation.  Why is it called Civic Online Reasoning? What does Civic Online Reasoning have to do with history? How does source analysis and source evaluation relate to Civic Online Reasoning? What does expertise look like in terms of evaluating online sources? Is misinformation a new thing? How does misinformation differ from disinformation? How do we ensure that our students access online sources more effectively? Are there skills/tools in place to fight misinformation? What exactly is lateral reading? How reliable is Wikipedia? How do we interrogate claims? Which lessons form part of the Civic Online Reasoning curriculum? What about the challenge of confirmation bias? Should we be more skeptical? The importance of finding corroborative evidence The importance of peer-reviewed studies Visit the Civic Online Reasoning website for some great sources to use in the history classroom. Also follow the twitter handle @CivicOnline. Joel's twitter handle is @joelbreakstone. Please send us feedback on twitter @WilliamHPalk or @C_duPlessis. If you like what we do, please consider rating and supporting the show.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

We are super excited about this new jingle! It was written and performed specifically for our show by Alwyn Bekker. When it comes to acoustic guitar chops, his guy is the real deal! It's like he has fifty fingers! I recommend you guys go and check out his band, Bad Peter, as well. Our favourite song is definitely "On This River".I hope you guys enjoy it! And thanks again, Alwyn!Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

Taylor Downing joins us again for another discussion - this time about his newest work entitled 1942: Britain at the Brink. The book and this discussion delves into the fateful year of 1942 when British morale reached a new low - military defeats abroad saw the British public lose faith in their leadership and it seemed as though wartime prime minister Winston Churchill was facing his darkest hour. Well, let me not spoil it here...let historian, writer and broadcaster, Taylor Downing tell you all about it!Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In this episode Prof Peter N Stearns of the George Mason University provides an overview of the Industrial Revolution. The 5th edition of Peter's book, The Industrial Revolution in World History, was published in 2021.This is what we've discussed:  How does the perspective of a world historian differ from that of an economic historian? Why is the Industrial Revolution considered the single most important development in human history over the past three centuries? Why should we study the Industrial Revolution? How should we understand the word "Revolution" as it relates to the Industrial Revolution? Was the Scientific Revolution a necessary precondition or precursor for the Industrial Revolution? Are we in the midst of a Fourth Industrial Revolution? When and where did the Industrial Revolution start and what were some of the big moments in the story of the Industrial Revolution? Why did the Industrial Revolution start in 18th century Britain? Is the Industrial Revolution a Western phenomenon? What was the social impact of the Industrial Revolution? Did industrialization outside of the West proceed along different paths? What is the link between industrialization and globalization? Did the Industrial Revolution make the world a better place? Can industrialization be more sustainable? What are the fascinating facets of the Industrial Revolution? How did the Industrial Revolution affect schooling? Peter's advice on teaching the Industrial Revolution. You can email Prof Peter Stearns at pstearns@gmu.edu or follow him on Twitter @StearnsPeter.Reach out to us @WilliamHPalk or @C_duPlessis. If you like what we do, consider buying us a coffee by following the link below.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In the third part of the series, Dr Dooling tells us about the various ways in which the people of South Africa resisted the oppressive Apartheid regime.  Dr Dooling delves into the different political currents in 20th century South Africa, touching on organisations such as the the ICU, the ANC, the PAC as well as the various affiliated organisations such as the ANC Youth League, MK and Poqo. We also discuss a few of the pivotal events in South African resistance history such as the Defiance Campaign, the Congress of the People and the Freedom Charter, the Women's March and of course the tragedy at Sharpeville. Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

At the end of 2021, we are very fortunate to talk to Dr Joel Breakstone of the Stanford History Education Group (SHEG) about their Reading Like a Historian lesson plans and Beyond the Bubble history skills assessments. We also find out more about SHEG's Civic Online Reasoning curriculum which will greatly benefit history learners in identifying misinformation.What we discuss: What does it mean to "read like a historian"? We look at the research of Sam Wineburg and Abby Reisman. How do we integrate source analysis with the conventional way of teaching history? How should we define a historical fact? What should be the starting point in the history classroom? Where does context end and where does source analysis start? How did learners react to SHEG lessons? How does the history teacher balance the different types of assessments? Can history assessment be meaningful and still allow learners to gain admission to university? How does Beyond the Bubble assessments complement the Reading Like a Historian lessons? How do we apply historical skills to fight misinformation? Why are fact checkers better at identifying problematic websites? What is lateral thinking? Tips on how to fight misinformation in the history class. Professional development courses offered by SHEG in 2022. At which age can learners start Reading Like a Historian? What projects are SHEG working on? Create your free login account on SHEG's website here. Find Dr Joel Breakstone on Twitter @joelbreakstone.Please share your questions and suggestions with us on Twitter @WilliamHPalk and @C_duPlessis.If you like what we do, please consider buying us a coffee at the support link below.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

About a month ago, the University of Pretoria celebrated the life of Chief Albert Luthuli. At these celebrations, Prof Benda Hofmeyr gave a presentation on the philosophical legacy of Albert Luthuli with specific emphasis on his charismatic leadership style.What we discuss: Why did a philosophy professor take an interest in leadership styles and specifically Albert Luthuli? How does a philosophical approach to studying leadership differ from the historical approach? What is meant with a charismatic leadership style? Why did you base your interpretation of charismatic leadership on the writings of Max Weber? How did Luthuli balance his authority over others with his ability to charm them? Is charisma a personality trait or quality or something we see in the actions of a leader? Would stability not be a better leadership quality than charm? Did apartheid South Africa and the ANC foster Luthuli's charismatic leadership style? Are some people just naturally more charismatic than others? How do we identify a leader as charismatic rather than just merely effective? Why does charismatic leadership emerge in the setting of a movement for change? Is charismatic leadership something of the past? Did Albert Luthuli have a specific brand of charisma? What is the legacy of Albert Luthuli's charismatic leadership style? How close does the charismatic leader come to the idea of the philosopher king? If you want to read more of Benda's work, visit here website here.Find us on Twitter @WilliamHPalk or @C_duPlessis.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

Join our history geek-out session with Kevin Manzel. Kevin is the senior director of content development at Wondrium. Colin and I are both big fans of Wondrium's history courses and use them as resources in our history classrooms.We cover the following: What is a history geek-out session? How does Wondrium connect disparate topics? What is Wondrium and how did it develop over time? What are some of the history courses on Wondrium? How does Wondrium decide which courses to develop? How does Wondrium ensure the quality and authority of its courses?  How can Wondrium benefit the history teacher? An example of how to integrate Wondrium lectures into lessons How does Wondrium help push for different perspectives? Why is Wondrium the perfect tool for professional development? How does  the guidebook supplement a Wondrium course? How does Wondrium keep abreast with the latest research? What are the Wondrium learning paths? We share our favourite courses Are there Wondrium courses on South African history? (Watch this space!) Learn more about Wondrium slogan "nothing about us without us" What can Wondrium subscribers look forward to in 2022? Hasan Jeffries' upcoming course on Wondrium We hope to make this a regular feature and bring you all the latest updates on Wondrium's history courses.Find Kevin Manzel on twitter or visit the Wondrium website for more info.Colin and William are available on twitter for any questions or suggestions or collaborations.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

William talks to the learning expert, Donald Clark, about the history of learning theory and about the best way to teach and learn history.Questions covered: Where does Donald’s interest in history come from? How has the way in which we learn changed over time? Why is the invention of writing the “Big Bang” moment of collective learning? Why is the invention of binary or computer language such an important moment in the development of learning? Is collective learning our unique trait? How did technology enable collective learning? Who are the experts in the field of learning? Does AI or machine learning give us any insight into human learning? Would it be possible to have Wikipedia in our heads? Who are the people who have changed our perceptions of learning? What are the major strands in learning theory? Have we arrived at a more scientific approach to understanding learning? What is the connection between learning and teaching? To what extent can the teacher be held responsible for the student's learning? Does critical thinking hold up as an abstract concept? How should we teach history if learning theories are incorporated? Why is it important to make history teaching more concrete? How should history teachers think about online learning design? Why should we let go of Bloom’s taxonomy? Donald’s advice to learn more effectively... You might want to read up on the following people: James Hutton, David C Geary, Daniel Kahneman, James Mark Baldwin, Tommy Flowers, Robin Dunbar, Douglas Engelbart, Clay Shirky, Donald Hebb, Herman Ebbinghaus, Edward Tolman, Albert Bandura, Henry Roediger, Jeffrey D Karpicke, Robert A Bjork, Barak Rosenshine, Robert Marzano, John Hattie, Paul Black and Dylan William.Or just visit Donald's blog here. He is also on twitter @DonaldClark Please let us know what you thought about this episode at highschoolhistoryrecap@gmail.com or find us on twitter: William and Colin.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In the second episode of the Apartheid Series we transition from the policies of Segregation in South Africa towards the implementation of Apartheid. In this episode Dr Dooling discusses some of the motivations behind the National Party's choice to put such a rigid system of racial segregation and separation in place. Topics such as Afrikaner Nationalism takes center stage as we look at why and how the NP won the 1948 elections. Some of the Apartheid laws are discussed and we look at how these laws affected the every day lives of South Africans, which will then lead us to our next episode - Resistance against Apartheid. Enjoy!Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In the first episode of our Apartheid Series, Colin is joined by Dr Wayne Dooling from  the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. The conversation deals with the concept of segregation in South Africa, where it comes from and how it was implemented. As an expert on Race, Segregation, and Apartheid in Twentieth-century South Africa, Dr Dooling helps us make sense of the systems of racial separation that would lead to the overarching system of Apartheid.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

A great collaboration with Kelly Chase of the History Detective! The perfect way to start Season 4. In this episode we aim give an overview of the policy and practice of apartheid in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Here are some of the questions we cover. What does the Afrikaans word "apartheid" translate to? How did South Africa get to the point where the minority white government were able to discriminate against the majority black population? What were some of the apartheid laws? Who were the ANC and what was their role in protesting apartheid? Who was Nelson Mandela and what role did he play in the anti-apartheid movement? Which kinds of boycotts and protests occurred globally in response to apartheid? How did apartheid come to an end? Who are lesser known persons from history who made a contribution against apartheid? Visit the History Detective website or find Kelly Chase on twitter. Follow High School History Recap on twitter for updates on our latest episodes. Find all our episodes here.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In this episode, Colin is joined once again by the American military historian, Michael Neiberg. This time they discuss a little thing called D-Day a.k.a. the Normandy Invasion a.k.a. Operation Overlord. Operation Overlord is one of the largest operations in military history and in this discussion Michael and Colin delve into not only the events of June 6th, 1944, but also the logistical challenges faced by Dwight Eisenhower and his team of planners, French involvement in the operation, as well as the living legacy left on the beaches. So if you know a few things about D-Day but are wondering about Mulberry harbours called Winston, force multipliers, how to say Forces françaises de l'intérieur, and French citizens being riled up by poetry, this is the episode you've been looking for. Enjoy!Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In this episode Colin speaks to the author of  Choreomania: Dance and Disorder, Dr Kelina Gotman. Kelina is from King's College in London and her research interests include theatre, dance and performance history, and philosophy. In this episode we tackle  the formation of the concept of the ‘dancing disease’ in nineteenth-century colonial medical, psychiatric and anthropological circles. What is choreomania really all about? Did people truly go mad and dance themselves to insanity? Well, Kelina sets the record straight!Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In this episode William discusses the neglected narrative of Dr Abdullah Abdurahman with Stephen Langtry. Dr Abdullah was South Africa's first elected black politician.Here are some of the questions we look at: ·         The life and times of Dr Abdullah·         We discuss Martin Plaut's biography of Dr Abdullah·         Are there many lost figures in South African history?·         Why are some stories remembered at the expense of others?·         What is the balancing point in writing history?·         A short biography of Dr Abdullah·         The friendship between Dr Abdullah and Mahatma Gandhi·         The schools set up by Dr Abdullah·         Some background on District 6 (Was it similar to Sophiatown?)·         Why did Dr Abdullah call it the African Political Organization?·         Was there ever something like a Coloured nationalism?·         Who were some of Dr Abdullah’s contemporaries?·         Does Dr Abdullah deserve more recognition?·         Do we neglect the historical context when we write biographies?·         Being mindful of person, context and contemporaries·         How did 1910 lie the foundation for the politics of the 20th century?·         Why did Dr Abdullah fall out of favor?·         Why is the Western Cape considered an island in South Africa?·         What is the main lesson we can learn from Dr Abdullah’s legacy?Find us on twitter:William H PalkStephen LangtrySupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In this episode, William discusses the life and legacy of the enigmatic Khoi woman, Krotoa, with Professor Shanade Barnabas of the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The discussion is based on the award-winning 2017 film made to commemorate her life. Some of the questions include: What is the main storyline of Krotoa and why has it won so many awards? What are the available historical sources on Krotoa? Does the movie do the "real" story of Krotoa justice? How is Krotoa represented in the movie? What were some of the psychological effects of colonization? What are the political dimensions of the story of Krotoa? How do different groups justify their claims to Krotoa's legacy? What are the important themes in the movie? Should South Africans build a monument (metaphorically speaking) around the legacy of Krotoa? Should Krotoa be regarded as the mother of a nation? Why are women portrayed differently in how historical figures are commemorated? Has Krotoa been given her rightful place in history? What were some of the effects of Dutch colonization on the Khoikhoi people? What would be the best way to immortalize Krotoa? Find us on twitter:William H PalkProf Shanade BarnabasThanks for listening!Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)

In this episode William is in conversation with Dr Precious Mncayi about research she has done into South Africa's unemployment crisis.  We have an unemployment rate of at least 29% and it is therefore vital to look at the mismatches between education and the demands of the labour market.Read her article here.Questions asked in this podcast:Is SA facing an unemployment crisis?Is the focus on STEM warranted?How does SA’s unemployment figure compare to other countries?What is the link between STEM fields and economic growth?What are the demands of the labour market?What are the historical explanations for SA’s high unemployment figure?What is meant with education mismatch?Why is there a mismatch between what students set out to study and what they end up doing?SA has the largest share of mismatch workers...What does it mean to be underemployed?Is it still worthwhile to go and study?Are we ignorant about the demands of the labour market?Which factors determine study and career choice? Striking a balance between interest and demand...Where can we get more information on the demands of SA’s labour market?How has SA’s labour market change?Which qualifications have high employment prospects?Should you pursue a degree or a diploma?What about the humanities?Is there a shortage of teachers in SA?What is the average age of teachers in SA?How can high school learners make better subject choices?What should be the main aim of education in schools today?What is government’s role in solving SA’s education mismatch?What is the single most important change we can make to prevent education mismatch?Should psychometric testing determine university admission?Are matric distinctions a guarantee for university success?Resources:www.lmip.org.zawww.lmi-research.org.zaFind us on twitter:William H PalkDr Precious MncayiLet us know what you think:highschoolhistoryrecap@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Q8KGSAT37YCPA&source=url)