The Anniversary Of Two Historical Battles. (1 Viewer)

[Isandlwana]

Today marked the anniversaries of both Agincourt and Balaklava & The Charge of the Light Brigade. Haven't seen anything anywhere in our press today that reminds our nation of these two momentous events.

Have to agree with Mitch's sentiments in another thread in which he made the pertinent point that just because an anniversary has an "0" at the end of it, doesn't mean that we should remember such events any more than if they do not, such as today.

God rest all that fell.

Please also remember the anniversary Beersheba is on Wednesday.

 

[Mitch]

No I did not see anything in the associated press about this at all either which, is quite sad considering the high profile of the WWI celebrations quoted in some places and commemorations in others and, the importance of these events.

I guess that with scottish independance at the same time as the WWI anniversary that two other historically important and defining moments in our history could not be linked with that event to make them ''popular'' and newsworthy!!
Mitch

 

[UKReb]

Well without wanting to sound flippant it doesn't surprise me. As apart from historians/university history & the Bard students and of course us gallant miltary TS collectors I doubt very much whether the man in the street could tell you anything at all about either The Hundred Years War or The Crimea.

I know for a fact that the subject of History in UK schools has been relegated to the bottom of the curriculum. Those education establishments that still teach history invariably concentrate on the Nazis for either the fifth or sixth streams. Now important as that subject may be how on earth can British youngsters today have any idea of where they all came from if history is now treated as unnecessary bunk and not worthy to be taught.

Reb

 

[Isandlwana]

Well without wanting to sound flippant it doesn't surprise me. As apart from historians/university history & the Bard students and of course us gallant miltary TS collectors I doubt very much whether the man in the street could tell you anything at all about either The Hundred Years War or The Crimea.

I know for a fact that the subject of History in UK schools has been relegated to the bottom of the curriculum. Those education establishments that still teach history invariably concentrate on the Nazis for either the fifth or sixth streams. Now important as that subject may be how on earth can British youngsters today have any idea of where they all came from if history is now treated as unnecessary bunk and not worthy to be taught.

Reb

Well, the only reason I can fathom is that those that create the history syllabi feel that in a country replete with multifarious cultures, the history of our nation is not the history of all those that now live within it. It's wrong, it is sad and there's not a lot we can do about it.

Having said that I am always pleased to see a good amount of British students being guided around the Great War battlefields.

 

[Rob]

Well, the only reason I can fathom is that those that create the history syllabi feel that in a country replete with multifarious cultures, the history of our nation is not the history of all those that now live within it. It's wrong, it is sad and there's not a lot we can do about it.

Having said that I am always pleased to see a good amount of British students being guided around the Great War battlefields.

Well here's the thing. From my experience at the museum and on the battlefields WW1 is most certainly being taught at school. And I know you may not be happy with the 100TH Anniversary but one of the main drivers is the learning behind it, school kids will be embarking on projects in their communities to remember, learn and pay tribute to those who gave their lives. With the internet, the proximity of the battlefields and spurred on by programme's such as ' Who do you think you are' more and more kids are learning about WW1. WW1 Battlefield tourism is bigger now than ever before (well at least since soon after the end of the war)as more and more schools learn and visit. I can't speak for the Charge of the Light Brigade or other conflicts before that, quite simply the kids cannot see a link to war so much further back in history, but today they can link with their ancestors in WW1 and its reaching out to touch their family and their communities history. For those of us behind the centenary its a great thing and will continue the rememberance of future generations for the Great War for decades to come{bravo}}

Rob

 

[Mitch]

I would think that being in a multicultural society which, has gone overtly mad with PC and fear of annoying or distressing someone or other that, we don't give in depth history of our country.

I think the history content may address certain parts of history to young children but, it is really poor in terms of depth and, is very very eclectic. Its a rather quick scan over things dealing with the main dates and not addressing detail. There is no WWI or WWII teaching to my knowledge in any great depth in lower aged schools. Much of the depth we seem to be talking of comes from the colleges and Higher education.

I did some teaching whilst doing the 7307 teaching course for adults at the college I went to and, did some History and other subjects and, many of those who had left school and been interested in history were tabula rasa concerning WWI and their knowledge of WWII was shaky to say the least.

It is a fact that History especially the areas which have interest for many on here are just passing the new generations by at school today and, however one dresses it up with a changing society and more modern requirements from curriculums this chasm will only get wider.
Mitch