Hello Shirley, Jack et al,
I really did hate history when I was at school as the main purpose was to learn dates and
I have never had a good memory for such things. Friends find this difficult to understand
as I am a founder member of our local Historical Society!
I am sure most history teachers these days are more enlightened, I am not in the teaching
profession but I know that they have to follow the National Curriculum so perhaps it
isn't easy to be creative. Neither of my two sons now in their thirties had any
interest in History although they weren't expected to learn dates.
I know all children are introduced to computers at an early age so operating a mouse is
second nature to them. I don't think our village school for 4-11 year old children is
any different in the main to any other. Once every two years they have a visit from a
group of "Vikings" to coincide with the topic being studied. The children also
dress up in Viking outfits for the day and I am sure they learn far more that way that
just by sitting at desks. The oldest children dressed in Victorian costumes recently also
to fit in with the topic they were studying.
To celebrate the Millennium the children had to draw pictures to depict life at the
school. These were used by a craftsman to make and design two stained glass windows which
can be enjoyed by everyone using the school. I hope the children appreciated that this
was a skill from the past.
I must apologize for writing to the "list" about a subject not connected to
research, topics sometime develop in this way.
Regards,
Margaret Harvey