Tolerance Representation in the Historical Textbooks

Abstract

Tolerance is one of the most important elements for the formation of a multicultural society. Indonesia as a country with ethnic diversity requires a high tolerance from every citizen to realize a peaceful nation life. These tolerance values can be developed through historical learning which has the main function as a form of national character. The history lesson itself cannot be separated from the use of textbooks as a tool of supporting the learning process. This research tries to analyze the content of tolerance values in Indonesian history textbooks using discourse analysis methods, especially Norman Fairclough's representation analysis. The concept of critical discourse analysis uses  three-dimensional models consisting of text, practice of discourse, and social practice. The results show that tolerance in Indonesian history textbooks is represented in various themes such as diversity,  integration, unity and so on. These themes are packaged in historical stories that are adapted to the prevailing curriculum, namely the 2013 curriculum. Tolerance needs to be understood as a result and an ongoing process. The long history of the Indonesian people shows that tolerance has been embedded as the identity of the Indonesian nation itself. Historical textbooks have a strategic role in instilling the values of tolerance to students. This history textbook is structured with a more popular regressive approach so  the delivery of moral values including tolerance values is more easier understood by students.