kimilseung

.....and the roads, don't forget the roads.

Jerseygirl

That's what me old mum used to say. Every time there was bad news from one of the countries...she said that proved her point.

Bluegrass Lass

Why couldn't there be a healthy balance between the two sides to history? I think it would be helpful and give people pride in the UK, to realize the good that the British has done for the world, but at the same time give a cautionary tale about not repeating mistakes of the past.

Sally Redux

I don't think history should be taught as a PR exercise.

Sally Redux

That's what they say in the Barbie, at least.

kimilseung

It already happens. Darwin is praised, Shakleton is praised, Everest has a bloody great big mountain named after him. All the good stuff, the exploring, the science that developed because of expansion and its created wealth, is praised.

Bluegrass Lass

Why is it considered PR to teach facts?

"So and so created xxxx, which led to an improvement in medicine"
"From X to Y date, the Brit army did xxx to indigenous population, killing yy"

Insert whatever examples you want to give. All countries, who are honest with themselves, should do the same. I know the US is guilty of plenty of ills, and I tire of hearing about the 'greatness' too.

Cape Blue

I think I've found my new spiritual home.

zargof

What have the British ever done for us eh?

robin1234

Developed the English muffin?

Sally Redux

I am just wary of using the slant either way as a basis for the curriculum. Indeed, it's the facts which we should be after.

Egon

Yea I was about to say the same thing - generally speaking I think the UK gets the balance right.

HumphreyC

Right but - we are back to this black or white view of history. On the one hand you have the fact that the indigenous people were treated badly and in some cases massacred by European immigrants (and it is shameful that it has taken up until very recently for an apology to be issued) No arguments there.

However, the fact is that European immigrants also built a highly developed country with of the most developed market economies in the world and the second highest ranking in the human development index - all from what was originally a few scattered convict settlements in a thinly populated desert. Not what I would call f-king up a country.

SultanOfSwing

Maybe not first time round, but quick visit to the Barbie seems to indicate some Brits want to attempt to finish the job off ...

Sally Redux

They built the country for their own needs and with absolutely no regard to the indigenous population. So in other words for their own commercial gain. Not praiseworthy in my book.