Kevin Myers teaches social history, with a particular focus on children and education, and co-ordinates the undergraduate programme in Childhood, Culture and Education. His doctoral thesis examined the settlement and education of refugee children in Britain, 1937-1945. He has published widely in this area and was awarded the inaugural ISCHE prize in 1998. His more recent research is focused in two distinct areas. The first is concerned with the identification of ‘feebleminded’ and ‘mentally deficient’ children in the late 19th and early 20th century England. The second is a critical examination of the politics and practices of public history, particularly as it relates to social identity and the promotion of cultural diversity.

Indicative publications

Myers, K. (2005) ‘Historical practice in the age of pluralism: educating and celebrating identities’ in P. Panayi and K. Burrell, Histories and Memories: Immigrants and their History in Britain since 1800, I.B. Tauris, pp.35-53.

Myers, K. and Brown, A. (2005) ‘Mental deficiency: the diagnosis and after-care of special school leavers in early twentieth century Birmingham (UK)’, Journal of Historical Sociology 18, 1/2, pp. 72-98.

Myers, K (2004) ‘English character and identity’ in G. Taylor and S. Spencer (eds.), Social Identities: Multidisciplinary Approaches, Routledge, pp.129 – 144.

Myers, K (1999) ‘Warm Beer, Cricket and Faith: English National Identity and Refugee Children 1937 – 1945’ in J. Coolahan, R. Aldrich and F. Simon (eds) Faiths and Education: Historical and Comparative Perspectives, C.S.H.P, pp.258-280.