Swerv-o

Yes, this is true. The lack of knowledge about any kind of history that kids have today is unbelievable. I think this is where the lack of respect arises - they just have no idea or empathy with what other people went through to provide them with the freedoms and opportunities that they a so quick to squander...

S

Vash the Stampede

Thanks guys.

An incisive synopsis.

Gallipoli wasn't chosen by accident; it was a highly sensitive area of incredible strategic value. It could have worked, and should have worked. And yet... the theory was correct, but the execution was a shambles.

Interesting fact: the US Marine Corps based their own principles of amphibious warfare upon the successes and failures of the Gallipoli campaign, since this was seen as a defining moment of amphibious doctrine.

So the legacy of Gallipoli lives on...

Vash the Stampede

No ill feelings, mate. You didn't know, but now you do.

End of.

esperanza

Have any of you actually been involved in the teaching of history in UK schools?
From what you are saying here it sounds like you have no idea at all.

Kapri

I can't believe that MD09 can come onto a site meant mainly for British people and spout the cr*p that he has.
The fact is that all our Grandads/ Great Grandads have had to go to war and they were on the same side.
MD09 - you should be ashamed of yourself. If you hate the British so much then stop posting on here.

Scrawni 2

My kids have both learnt about the Somme etc and were taken over to France for a week as part of their school history lesson.

In fact, I also make it my business to teach them about their past and the people who lost their lives (whatever nationality). I have great respect for everyone who went through it or are still part of war.

Mind you, when I was at school all I learnt in history was about China and the Chinese revolution!

Mandy

esperanza

Glad to hear it,good for you - I have taken dozens of teenagers to northern France as well as teaching hundreds (or maybe even thousands!) of them about the Somme and the other horrors of the twentieth century. Without exception they have shown interest in and empathy for the men whose lives became entangled in these awful events. (Even bottom set studying war poetry! & this is in a less-than-average comprehensive school)

DrWho

Couldn't agree more...

Scrawni 2

I know what you mean, I worked in a secondary school for a couple of years and worked with alot of kids with behavioural problems.

Alot of these kids actually got alot out of the trips and especially enjoyed talking the the old folk who had stories to tell, it made it more real to them I suppose. Reading it from a book isn't quite the same.

Mandy

windog

Please somebody tell me MD09 lives in Perth or at least no where near Queensland? or we may have to change our minds on where to live!

In reply to the poster about visiting the battlefields thousands of vets or thier famillies go to Normandy each year, but as to visiting the Somme, for it to be directly relevant the visitors would mostly be over 90!, and that would be the decendants!, and compared to Gallipoli, the beach hotels aren't up to much .

I think with regard to gallipoli, the ANZAC force were mainly if not wholely volounteers, and were completely unprepared for the lack of concern for casualties held by the army commanders of the time, and this is where the feeling that they were singled out as "cannon fodder" comes from, whereas the truth is it was not directed at them, all soldiers were equally expendable regardless of thier origin!

Vash the Stampede

All Australian soldiers who fought in WWI were volunteers; the government didn't introduce conscription until 1942.

windog

I thought that was the case but I wasn't 100% sure

esperanza

Absolutely, especially if you can't read! (Shouldn't take the piss really, but when you have a whole class of functionally illiterate 14 year olds you have to find some way for them to access the subject!)

Like the poster Vash.

Swerv-o

I've not taught history directly, but have taught citizenship and general studies and at times I have been pretty shocked at the level of understanding of the past that many of the kids have demonstrated.

In particular, I remember trying to explain why we had a 2 minutes silence and what the significance of it was. The kids really couldn't have been any less interested and obnoxious about the whole thing.

To be fair though, this was in the second worst school in Leicestershire, so maybe that had something to do with it...

S

chels

I think that you may have hit the nail on the head with that last point! In my opinion, the teaching of the world wars and other recent conflicts has improved signicantly. The use of contempory media and texts (eg war photographers, poets etc) and an approach that looks beyond military tactics and examines cultural, political and sociological elements of history has made historical events more meaningful and given children a greater understanding of why we have remembrance services, wear poppies, visit battlefields...

But if the kids don't want to learn about history / geography / maths etc they won't give a toss IMO about the subject. Esp. if it's not about gangstas and their hos, shooting enemies and going on spending sprees.