tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357620132379563790.post7531585330994247668..comments2023-04-13T17:09:27.720+01:00Comments on Englands Freedome, Souldiers Rights: Making History historyTrooper Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01505221473081871071noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357620132379563790.post-396362260465293332011-03-31T11:41:00.327+01:002011-03-31T11:41:00.327+01:00Cisbio,
kids do indeed start learning science, an...Cisbio,<br /><br />kids do indeed start learning science, and then move on to more specialised areas. If history is a 'whole range of subjects' all the more reason to let the schools get on and do what they want, rather than the interfering of state authorities, who are forever cramming subjects into the mandated curriculum.<br /><br />It would be good if the same approach were adopted with history, so that the basic chronology could be taught, before looking at other things in more detail.<br /><br />I myself said it was a cop-out, but in my own defence, many of the controversies about schooling are due to it being a state-run organisation. An example is the issue around religious schools. Take away the state interference, and it just comes down to an issue of choice for the parents.<br /><br />I don't know much about Ferguson. I think I saw him on Question Time recently and found him rather annoying. If he does want to impose a bit of Whig theory, it would most likely introduce a healthy corrective to the chaotic Dr Who-style pinball journey through the centuries.<br /><br />The problem is that Ferguson's traditional viewpoint has been rejected on political grounds, and the fallacy is that we now have a more balanced, non-jingoistic approach, when in fact now we have a sort of anti-Whig approach, that reinforces the underlying and all-pervading orthodoxy of this age.<br /><br />As you say it's a tricky one. Still, at least the kids have 'Horrible Histories' - not exactly my cup of tea, but entertaining and informative up to a point.Trooper Thompsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357620132379563790.post-69476353800942777882011-03-31T10:16:46.312+01:002011-03-31T10:16:46.312+01:00dude, you're right: Blaming the ills of state ...dude, you're right: Blaming the ills of state education simply on the fact that is state education IS a cop out.<br /><br />I agree that history teaching is pretty vapid right now. But Ferguson's problem with the curriculum is usually that it doesn't conform with his Whig philosophy -you know: how brilliant the British Empire was,how marvelous is western civilisation, etc.<br /><br />It's a tricky one. While the current curriculum is a random 'smorgasbord', teaching the subject with a strict chronological approach -from the Iron Age to now - would also be superficial and boring for kids.<br /><br />The basic problem, IMO is that 'history' is not a subject, it's a whole range of subjects. Do we learn 'Science'? No we learn about physics, maths chemistry etc. rant ravecisbionoreply@blogger.com