Nick,
It's clear that Gove wants the national story to be told in full and
any criticism that sidesteps this will be ignored. How about we try to
highlight better ways of telling that story and where museums could
support that. Is a simple linear jog through the timeline from the
age of 7 to the age of 14 the right way to do it? For example, could
the outline of the key periods and events be delivered at KS2 and then
selected aspects revisited at KS3 through thematic topics? (Get the
basic historical knowledge sorted out at KS2 and deeper understanding
and concepts at KS3) Can we suggest ways of getting children to
understand and remember the timeline in ways that don't dominate or
overbalance the teaching of historical understanding and concepts (I'm
avoiding the word skills as that seems to a 'verbum non grata' to Gove).
One thing you might welcome is that the timeline being taught does at
least allow ALL museums and their collections to be engaged with the
history curriculum. There are no more blind spots or gaps in coverage.
All the best,
Don
Don Henson
Freelance Consultant in Public Archaeology and Education
See my web pages at
http://www.independent.academia.edu/DonHenson
http://nowthenuk.wordpress.com
and my new book, Doing Archaeology, at
http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415602129/
I am also Hon. Director of CASPAR
Centre for Audio-Visual Study and Practice in Archaeology
Institute of Archaeology
University College London
Colleagues
This is not GEM's official response to the changes Michael Gove is
proposing.
However, next week I have a 5 minute opportunity to set out our
response to the History and Geography proposals to a Westminster group
that will include the DfE.
I reckon 5 minutes means 5 points.
If so, what would yours be?
Teaching chronologies?
Skills focus?
Local History?
Outrage and disappointment aside, it would be good to get some
fundamental points across - and to frame these positively - otherwise
we may just get dismissed alongside the rest of the chorus of
disapproval.
Please don't miss this opportunity to get a swift oar in..
Kindest regards
N
Dr Nick Winterbotham
Chair, GEM
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
GEM list: Contact the list owner for assistance at
[log in to unmask]
For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a
holiday) see the list website at
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=GEM
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
GEM list: Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask]
For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=GEM
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
|