The victors write the history

Here's an interesting extract from McClatchy's Inside Iraq blog about how the history being taught in Iraq's schools conveniently stops in 1958. Now why would that be?

As if Saddam never was

Inside Iraq blogs (December 31^st):  Our schools are different from schools in the U.S. in that the teachers are required to stick to the material in the text books that the Ministry of Education prints, and are not permitted to deviate from the curriculum in any way. This is how it was during Saddam's time – and has – conveniently, remained the same since, in spite of "democracy", "human rights" and "freedom of speech".
 
     

Contemporary Iraq history is taught in sixth, ninth and 12th grades. Now, in all three text books history suddenly comes to an end after the 1958 revolution. No mention is made of later revolutions: in 1963 in which Baathists participated, though they did not come to power, and the 1968 revolution that they led and through which they arose to power. Not once is "Baath" mentioned – Not once is Saddam Hussein" mentioned in all the history text books now being taught in Iraqi schools. 

 http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/2010/12/as-if-saddam-never-was.html