The International Red Cross in contemporary Polish history textbooks: An overview

Abstract

The main aim of the article is to present how the issues pertaining to the creation and activities of the International Red Cross and the figure of its originator and founder, Henry Dunant, are presented in Polish history textbooks. History lessons at school are a suitable platform to introduce issues related to the concept of humanitarianism. Lessons that mention the establishment and operations of the International Red Cross and its national branches make a valuable contribution to raising awareness of humanitarianism and human rights. It is worth looking at how these issues are treated in school textbooks, which are one of the main sources of students' knowledge of history. Primary and secondary school textbooks currently available on the publishing market and used by active teachers were analysed. Textual content and iconography were analysed, as well as the tasks proposed for classroom use. In order to answer the research questions, a critical textual analysis of the content of twenty-one textbooks was carried out. Textbooks published between 2017 and 2023, which are on the official list of textbooks approved for use in schools, were the subject of analysis. The article also reveals the presence of the Polish Red Cross on the pages of these textbooks.