SOUGHT AND FOUND - ADOLESCENTS IDEAL HISTORICAL CONCEPTIONS AS UNVEILED BY CONCEPT MAPPING

We consider conceptions of history as schemata that integrate large po rtions and many aspects of knowledge. We describe the use of cognitive mapping for the identification of historical conceptions by examining whether adolescents' historical knowledge can be characterized accord ing to widespread lay distinctions between critical and traditional or ientations towards the past. We present cognitive maps of three of 12 18-year-old students which were identified as possessing qualities tha t make them come close to serving as 'ideal conceptions' of Jewish his tory: the 'theological', 'sociological', and 'critical/historical'. Th ese conceptions are considered in relation to a discussion concerning (1) the applicability of cognitive mapping in the face of an apparent contrast between the seemingly linear character of historical knowledg e and its spatial representation; and (2) the conception, held by many faith schools, of the development of historical knowledge as a contes t between tradition and criticism.