Sunday 25 May 2008

Holocaust Dropped from UK School Curriculum

I have now found this report in the Times last year, so this is not a new change in the school curriculum. While I can understand the difficulties faced by the teachers of multi-race, multi-faith classes, it should be possible to teach these difficult subjects in a sensitive manner. This is the Times report:-

"Schools drop Holocaust lessons to avoid offence - Alexandra Frean

"Teachers are dropping controversial subjects such as the Holocaust and the Crusades from history lessons because they do not want to cause offence to children from certain races or religions, a report claims.

"A lack of factual knowledge among some teachers, particularly in primary schools, is also leading to “shallow” lessons on emotive and difficult subjects, according to the study by the Historical Association.

"The report, produced with funding from the Department for Education, said that where teachers and staff avoided emotive and controversial history, their motives were generally well intentioned.

“Staff may wish to avoid causing offence or appearing insensitive to individuals or groups in their classes. In particular settings, teachers of history are unwilling to challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship,” it concluded.

"However, it was concerned that this could lead to divisions within school, and that it might also put pupils off history."

1 comment:

Tim said...

Hi
I found your blog asking for information about this subject. I also received for the second time the same email on this topic.
Please go to this site for the full information.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/holocaust.asp
or
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/historical/a/holocaust_chain.htm
or
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/h/holocaust-uk.htm

Unfortunately there are people who want to cause unrest and discord.
I hope this answers your issue