march 2002 - article from bbc history magazine

David Starkey; Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, author and broadcaster gives his damning verdict on the National Curriculum and the general way that history is taught at school. He says:

"For, in its focus on process, the National Curriculum has no room for the excitement of history, the sweep of narrative or the drama of character. And it offers our children no sense of a map of time. Rootless and directionless, they do not know where they come from or where they may be going. Above all, they have no notion of what has made their own world and their own country.

In the wake of 11 September we are asking, for the first time in half a century, hard questions about identity, values and nationhood and wondering where we have gone wrong. The first finger of blame should be pointed at the shambolic
travesty that is the History in the National Curriculum."

WATE's comment: It's worth pointing out that England is the only country that actually has to follow the national curriculum. The other home countries are free to set there own curriculums through their own parliaments and assemblies. In Scotland for example every child no matter what their origin is taught Scottish history and are even taken to battlefields where the English were defeated. Can you ever imagine the thought police letting that one go in England.

The English without our own parliament have this politically correct version of history forced upon us by the mish mash of MP's that we call Westminster, with many of them no with interest what so ever in what gets taught in English schools. If our kids are not taught any sense of national identity or the values that we as a nation stand for what hope can we have for the future.

Does it not make sense to, instead of teaching our kids, you are black, you are asian, you are a muslim, to say to them all - you are English. If allowed to be, patriotism can be a very positive force and one that can bring benefits to us all. While the English are ruled soley by Westminster the teaching of English history will not even be raised as an issue and our kids will continue to be left totally ignorant of our own history.