Sillat menneisyyden ja nykyisyyden välillä: Historian opettajien kokemuksia paikallishistorian opetuksesta ja paikallisten opetussuunnitelmien haasteista

The article examines the challenges of history teaching and the effectiveness of local curricula in basic education in the Lapland region. Using a hermeneutic approach, the study focuses on history teachers’ perceptions of teaching local history. The source material consists of semi-structured interviews with eight history teachers. The study shows that teaching local history increases students’ motivation and helps them better understand national and global history. However, teachers face challenges due to unclear or insufficient local curricula. The guidelines from the National Core Curricula for Education have not been adequately integrated into local curricula. Teachers’ personal interest and expertise play a crucial role in incorporating local perspectives. The findings raise questions about the impact of teachers’ subjective views on the development of students’ personal identities. The study suggests the need for more in-service training and resources for teaching local history and developing local curricula.