[3][verification needed] The teaching of history in French schools was influenced by the nouvelle histoire, as disseminated in the 1960s and 1970s by Cahiers pédagogiques [fr] and Enseignement 70 and other journals for teachers.
[4] Joseph Leif, the inspector-general of teacher training, said pupils should learn about historians' approaches as well as facts and dates.
[4] Louis François, dean of the history/geography group in the Inspectorate of National Education, advised teachers to provide historic documents and promote "active methods", which would give pupils "the immense happiness of discovery".
[4] Proponents said it was a reaction against the memorization of names and dates that characterized traditional teaching and left bored students.
Traditionalists protested loudly that it was a postmodern innovation that threatened to leave the youth ignorant of French patriotism and national identity.