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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

History is a joke

298 replies

ScatterKitty · 08/10/2023 08:05

AIBU to wish History lessons focused less on Henry VIII (or British monarchy in general) and more on the history which led to current conflicts and issues which affect current affairs?

Was anyone taught about the Israel/Palestine situation? Or the history of India or Pakistan? Or even Windrush and UK Black history?

How am I meant to explain to my kids what's going on in the world when we were never taught and all they learn about is British monarchy, Romans etc?

I've been trying to find a decent explanation online with no luck. Can anyone help?

OP posts:
TerfinUSB · 08/10/2023 08:09

I agree. There much more contextual stuff taught in RS I think.

RampantIvy · 08/10/2023 08:10

What age group are we talking about here? At GCSE they learn about conflict, world wars, Vietnam etc.

PutYourBackIntoit · 08/10/2023 08:10

I agree. My ds is learning about the Vikings, again ffs. He's in secondary school.

Theimpossiblegirl · 08/10/2023 08:11

The DfE set the curriculum, Schools have no say.

BeyondMyWits · 08/10/2023 08:13

I did Modern Studies Highers in Scotland, we learned about the middle East crisis and causes.

Not really History.

Sausagenbacon · 08/10/2023 08:14

Schools only have limited time available. If you want them to know something, tell them. Or tell them to learn it.

Smartiepants79 · 08/10/2023 08:14

Primary history focuses mainly of uk history so no, they won’t be taught about Palestine.
I do think a better balance with some more modern topics would be good but tithings like the romans and the vikings are still part of the history of our society and language. Also these topics are fasciitis children and that helps foster an interest in history.

Cornishmumofone · 08/10/2023 08:16

It can depend on the exam boards, the topics they offer and the texts available to the teacher. When I did GCSE History in the early 1990s, we did the history of Ireland, the history of medicine, the history of education and another topic which clearly wasn't memorable.

Azaeleasinbloom · 08/10/2023 08:17

Totally agree. Make it relevant to the current generation. I was educated in Scotland, and although we covered Vikings & Tudors, we did manage to make it as far as the Russian Revolution and WW1. Everything with a European slant.

That said, I am old, and, for example the Yom Kippur war would have been Modern Studies in my day. But still, so very relevant to understand.

Stroopwaffels · 08/10/2023 08:18

Romans and Vikings are easier for children to relate to as well. We live less than a mile from Roman ruins, the Vikings were around all over northern UK. If you are a 9 year old in York or living near Hadrian's wall or Bath, the Romans and VIkings are hugely relevant.

Yes it's important to understand world events in context but "history" is a massive subject and you can't teach it all.

Winksy · 08/10/2023 08:18

We teach those things in my school (secondary comp)...

FlopsSake · 08/10/2023 08:18

I have to say, i was watching the news yesterday and i was just confused over the fighting. All i saw were lots of men (no women) standing around tanks, getting all hyped up. Idk what its all over but seeing the papers today, i see men snatching and killing women and children. Why?

hmrcwhatnow · 08/10/2023 08:19

i follow vicky smith on insta
and she recommends a weekly news update for primary age kids that sounds perfect if you're unsure how to inform. not seen it but love her style if informing so expect
it's good

7Worfs · 08/10/2023 08:20

Anything that happened in the last 100 years does not qualify as “history” just yet.

It’s geopolitics you are referring to.

hmrcwhatnow · 08/10/2023 08:20

instagram.com/byvickysmith?igshid=NzZhOTFlYzFmZQ==

Takoneko · 08/10/2023 08:25

7Worfs · 08/10/2023 08:20

Anything that happened in the last 100 years does not qualify as “history” just yet.

It’s geopolitics you are referring to.

Where on earth did you get that idea?

AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside · 08/10/2023 08:25

Was anyone taught about the Israel/Palestine situation? Or the history of India or Pakistan? Or even Windrush and UK Black history?

We touched on slavery and maybe MLK but nothing of any significance. I remember doing Romans, monarchy, black plague and WW2.

I haven't got the first clue about Isreal/Palestine, I just opened the Hamas thread but haven't got any knowledge of either sides point. Same for India/Pakistan. All I know of India is Britain ruled there from posho old films.

YearsofYears · 08/10/2023 08:27

This will sound condescending but I don't meant to be : BBC newsround is a great resource for children and younger teens. Explains these things sensitively and breaks them down.
While history curriculum could be expanded, this is where personal reading and keeping up with the news comes in. If you had covered the Israeli - Egyptian war as a young teen you'd probably be unlikely to remember it now?

Sussurations · 08/10/2023 08:28

You can’t learn everything, and a lot of history is about learning how to assess sources and where information comes from.

Henry VIII and his three children had a massive impact on the shaping of religion and land ownership in this country which is still relevant today, plus his reign is full of drama which children (and adults) enjoy learning about! It was a period of enormous change and part of the shift from the medieval to the early modern world, so a useful period to earn about.

i remember wondering why we didn’t learn more big chunks of history at school - it seemed
a bit disconnected at the time - but I can see now that I learnt several different concepts that are relevant to lots of other situations. I don’t remember the facts in detail but i can check facts any time - history is way more than that.

MorrisWallpaper · 08/10/2023 08:29

FlopsSake · 08/10/2023 08:18

I have to say, i was watching the news yesterday and i was just confused over the fighting. All i saw were lots of men (no women) standing around tanks, getting all hyped up. Idk what its all over but seeing the papers today, i see men snatching and killing women and children. Why?

What is it that’s confusing you?

Paperbagsaremine · 08/10/2023 08:31

A lot of history shows Britain's behaviour in a less than flattering light, to the extent that teaching kids about a king who was a murderous maniac is seen as preferable!
To take a fairly vanilla example - I was in Norway last year, and there is a cannon ball embedded in a local church tower. A British cannonball. The British were up to no good and chased off. Not a story we get told in school funnily enough.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 08/10/2023 08:31

I remember in the 1980’s doing Vietnam and The Middle East.

Schools can choose what areas to study at GCSE.

YearsofYears · 08/10/2023 08:32

I agree with @7Worfs there is a huge amount of geopolitics to it. The Tim Marshall power of geography books are a great resource. I'm unsure if they cover Israel but still worth a read to know why things are they way they are in the world and why countries act in certain ways.

TibetanTerrah · 08/10/2023 08:33

I studied 'the Arab/Israeli conflict' in GCSE history 20 years ago. That's what the topic was called. It feels like it would be labelled slightly differently now.

The bias in teaching was quite interesting looking back. Sympathy towards one side despite their obvious brutality...

loislovesstewie · 08/10/2023 08:35

It's impossible to teach everything at school. And, quite frankly, some people aren't interested. I've always been of the opinion that we can't understand today if we don't understand how we got here. So, generally, I've tried to read up on a lot of topics , history from around the world etc. FWIW, I think it's necessary that young people have a grasp on why the UK is how it is now, and that involves UK history, learning about the USA for example is fine but doesn't perform that function.If you feel your children are missing out or you lack knowledge then try reading up on a subject, but I think it's unreasonable to expect schools to do it all. Foster an enquiring mind is probably the best way forward.