History and Geography

[MillyR]

I love History. I studied it as an option at school and have done related studies since. DS hates History, and I can see why. It seems to be, at KS3 in his school, mostly a soap opera about what certain rich people did in the past.

An example of this would be the Civil War. DS had to create an explanation of the Civil War and various people such as Prince Rupert, depicted as football players in a match.

To me this is a disgrace. The way that people died in that war was horrific, and many of the soldiers would have been the same age as pupils in DS's school. It seems utterly lacking in humanity, compassion or a concern for the majority of people who were not wealthy in the past.

When I compare it to the focus on social inequality and development in Geography, it seems as if Geography has a very left wing focus and History a very right wing focus.

I have wondered if this is to do with the political interest and interference in the History curriculum by Government? Surely this will only get worse when the current Government reforms the History curriculum. Governments and 'disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' don't seem interested in what is going on in Geography, so leave it alone.

Basically I have decided with DS that he will drop History ASAP, and just go for Geography at GCSE. I think this is a terrible shame, but feel that as I have a general interest in culture and heritage, that he will learn about it through family trips etc. But AIBU to agree that DS can drop History because of its right wing stance?

I love learning about historical events, especially battles and for something like the Brigantes Battle at what is now Scotch Corner in AD 71 to be compared to a football match would be anathema to me. I don't need modern comparisons, I don't need allegories, I need the data and the knowledge of what happened at the time.

HMC, yes that is true, but as he can only choose a certain number of options, he will have to drop some subjects and won't be able to then go on to do them at degree level.

Options is a nightmare believe me, I had a right time of it last year.

You do have to compromise in the end. I am so thankful though that dd's school enable her to study both hostory and geography.

Hmmm. I think school history is far less focused on political history than it was 'in my day'.

But at this level I think you have to have a knowledge of the 'skeleton' of events - eg in the civil war why were people unhappy with Charles and royalists, who were they/who were Cromwells supporters etc before you can even start to flesh out and analyse everything else that went on at that time. The emphasis on sources nowadays at least makes students aware of who wrote history and why, their bias etc.

I have to admit I loathed battles and would probably have welcomed the football analogy

A lot depends on whether a period 'grabs' you or not. DD hated a lot of KS3 history as she's not so keen on 'old stuff' and the industrial revolution bored her senseless. But she's doing GCSE because she's interested in more modern stuff and war

They should get Terry Deary in.

I love Horrible Histories.

Apart from that, I recall loving History until GCSE and then getting completely turned off because the teacher chose to do "Economic and social history of the British Isles 1770 - 1977." IT was the most dull thing in the history of very dull things.

I got back into it at university doing good stuff like the Romans and the Greeks, that was much more fun.

Ds has been able to do both history and geography which is great and he loves history.

oh good glad it arrived safely

ermm - I didn't do anything instead - I got married and had a family.

Now 1 course into a health and social care degree with the OU