About to do history on college

by Fiude

Hi there. I was thinking about make it for some days, I finally can write it (I guess). First of all, you need to know some stuff. I'm from Brazil and I do accounting on college ( it is a big deal here because the complexity of fiscal law). I really hate do it. I always liked of history, I watched history channel and documentaries on early YouTube and main cause why I started to learn English (to watch more documentaries) but here the think about do history is for lazy people, people who consuming drugs... People always repressed me about do history. Then, to the problem. I really think I like history to be my graduation on college but here I have several problems with it. I mentioned I live in Brazil, nobody really care to academical knowledge, I mean researchers, professors and academical careers in general. Another problem is the government to be populist did some incentive to everyone do college resulting on massive amount of people with college degree without a job. Saturation of market. Another problem is a kind of ostracism about the career. The dangerous problem is teaching on public school, almost all of them is dominate for "treinees of crime" and low salary. I almost forgot it, the ideology bias on humanities are too high you can be ostracized on academy too. I see it myself. I don't know, guys. I think do history is my passion but we don't live that way. Tell me what you think about it or your experience, everything will be helpful.

Sorry about any gramatical error.

brazilian_liliger

Hello friend! I'm a Brazilian historian, right now closely to complete my master's degree. It is not easy, but I think your post have some understandable misconceptions about our profession. Nothing wrong with that, because this is too much intricate in our common sense.

First of all, despite the market troubles (and I think this is not just for Brazilian case) I love my profession, never regretted choose this carreer and im still motivated to move foward. I was approved in university (UFPR) in 2011, and since then, saw many colleagues became desilusioned, but another ones are still passioned like me. And this is normal. People (again not just in Brazil) normally don't have a clue about what in fact means be a historian.

That being said, it's time to point my impression about some stuff in your post.

here the think about do history is for lazy people, people who consuming drugs

As you can imagine, this a stereotype. I think became from Dictatorship times perhaps. People consume drugs for sure, but not more than other colleagues from another courses. And History is a course fueled of competent and hardworking people.

nobody really care to academical knowledge

Is not exactly that way. Sure, we have not many historians debating in mass media. And just few people actually know about what a historian do. And more, most of our current History best-sellers are in fact written by journalists who almost didin't have any methods (like Laurentino Gomes) or didin't have it at all (like Leandro Narloch). But again, I think is not a Brazilian particularity. And more, when I am speaking with someone and say that im a historian, many times people became truly interesed and respect our profession. Also, in History (like any other science) a single ressearch rarely can change all our conceptions about the world. Of course, this is not a reason to give up science. And finally, if you manage became a historian in a public university (its hard, I know) you will have a really stable and well paid profession. That being said, I reccomend you to read books and articles made by historians. One of the greatest points about Brazilian science is that every article produced in a public university should be free. And this means that almost every articles of our History are just a few clicks from your.

Another problem is the government to be populist did some incentive to everyone do college resulting on massive amount of people with college degree without a job

This is a point of view, isin’t it? No problem with that, everyone can have a personal opinion about politics. But I assure you thats not the opinion of vast majority of Historians. In fact, that same policies for example expanded the budget o our departments and promoted notable increase of scholarships. History research (again not just in Brazil) depends pretty much of State policies, pretty much more than the private sector. But well, is not like some people say. We have no compromise with any party. If you disagree on this policies go on. As long you do your job well you will not be kicked out of nothing.

The dangerous problem is teaching on public school, almost all of them is dominate for "treinees of crime" and low salary

You know,I studied all of my life in a private school. And then, in graduation, we have the mandatory internship in public school. My conceptions changed too much. And in fact, in general, almost every history teacher prefers a carrer in state. You have that huge private schools who pay well and approve tons of people in university. But this is not reality of the vast part of private schools. In a public career you have a plan for increasing salaries and remunerated license if you want postgraduate (I think this changes according the state). And about the fact that public schools are “treinees of crime”, I disagree again. We are one of the most unequal countries in all world. Something that I learned is, a public school is na reflections of its area. So a public school in a “safe” neighborhood will be a “safe” school. And a school placed in a crime controled zone will be dangerous.

That being said, if be a historian is really our dream you should try it, why not! I recommend you read our classics, our current pappers, but the ones made by historians. No problem with youtube, tv shows, magazines or mainstream books, this is also cool, is this that attracted me for our profession, but is not be a Historian, in the scientific meaning of it.