The dates don’t matter but not knowing about two of the most momentous conflicts that changed the world is quite shocking. I presume that what they get at school is pretty minimal and it’s in one ear and out the other. They also don’t get to hear about WW2 at home because the parents and grandparents who lived through the war aren’t here anymore or are just too young to remember.
Lack of awareness on WW1/2
- Thread starter Pawnless Endgame
- Start date
It actually goes a little deeper than that. The world today is the way it is largely because of the legacies left post-WWII.
Foreign policy, geo-politics, the division of the first through third world, the rise of neo-colonialism and the superpower status quo, the development of institutions such as the UN, IMF, WB, etc. The list really does go on.
EVERYBODY should know roughly when it occurred, roughly who was involved but intimately about what was at stake (and the sacrifices millions of normal people made).
It sounds like hyperbole, but I dread to think about what life in Britain would be like if we hadn't stood up to the Nazis or if we had lost...
It sounds like hyperbole, but I dread to think about what life in Britain would be like if we hadn't stood up to the Nazis or if we had lost...
The thing is though, when should it stop becoming common knowledge? That's what people will argue anyway. I obviously believe that everyone should know it as it such a momentus date! How brave those soldiers were is quite incredible.
Better?
Better?
Soldato
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That is a bit strange. We learnt about WW1, the Russian Revolution, World War 2 and The Cold War. My brother is currently studying the rise of the Nazi's and the events leading upto WW2.
It should matter a great deal because you can see and learn from the mistakes that have been made in the past. It can also give you an insight on why the present is the way it is.
The crap which passes as "History" on the curriculum really doesnt help with this, we spend so much time in the curriculum at the moment teaching about the american colonisation of north america and so forth that we frankly do not in any way teach enough about our own history. IMO we should have two seperate subjects called Global History and National History or something.
A lot of the kids I deal with cant tell you who the key leaders were in ww1 or ww2, important battles or events in those wars and god forbid you ask them anything about our OWN civil war as it just draws blank expressions. All part of the problem of teaching to pass an exam rather than teaching to improve knowledge.
A lot of the kids I deal with cant tell you who the key leaders were in ww1 or ww2, important battles or events in those wars and god forbid you ask them anything about our OWN civil war as it just draws blank expressions. All part of the problem of teaching to pass an exam rather than teaching to improve knowledge.
Soldato
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I haven't done History since I was 14 (year 9) yet it always makes me smile when someone says that Fritzel is the most evil Austrian ever......
Is the purpose of GCSE history to learn facts, or to learn how to analyse and interpret those facts?
I thought it was the latter, and the former is better served by spending your own time in the library.
Soldato
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how sad 
Soldato
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OP you have to remember that world wars took place long time ago and even those who were in their 20s during ww2 are probably in their 80s now or deceased. The environment of that period was very different from today's environment.
Most of the youngsters today have little to no interest in what happened in the past. They are more interested in ipods, mobile phones, computer games and technology (^^) along with xfactor, strictly come dancing etc than knowing what happened in the past. It just isn't that appealing anymore.
Most of the youngsters today have little to no interest in what happened in the past. They are more interested in ipods, mobile phones, computer games and technology (^^) along with xfactor, strictly come dancing etc than knowing what happened in the past. It just isn't that appealing anymore.
Personally I think the purpose should be both, no reason for them to be mutually exclusive. The fact that we teach who Pocahontas was but dont teach who Cromwell was is just a travesty imo.
Soldato
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Similarly, all my time studying history at GCSE and A Levels and I practically learnt nothing about the actual conflict of WW2, only the consequences and outcomes. It was the same when we learn of the Korean and Vietnam wars, we learnt practically nothing about the conflict itself. It always infuriated me at school and college, because if there was ever a question on actual battles in the exam then I would ace it! Alas, it was all about politics and outcomes, which I guess are more important for education in terms of learning how to analyse facts etc (what Telescopi said).
Additionally, we learnt a pathetically little amount about Russia's contribution in the war, we merely skirt around the brief facts of the Battle of Britain (in no way am I detracting from the importance, courage and sacrifice of the pilots involved) and that is how we won the war. It did infuriate me. In fact my history teacher on the whole agreed with me and leant me "Stalingrad - by Anthony Beevor" which i read in my early teens, the final 5 chapters need reading by anyone interested in the subject as they really open your eyes to the pitiful events that took place in the aftermath of the battle and the atrocities committed by both sides were just unfathomable in todays world.
I do have a great interest in WW2 and have a vast library of books that I have brought upon myself to read. Most of my knowledge of WW2 comes from an "out of hours" thirst for knowledge.
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GCSE History is, imo, a mixture of the two. There are some things in the curriculum that just deserve to be known by everyone, such as the events of the world wars, and there is also the teaching of "how to".
To a degree yes, not imo to a sufficient degree though and certainly without sufficient focus on our own history which I think is extremely important for any nations teaching.
I'd be shocked if they did that to me and to be honest unless it has any relevance on the job (ie historian) then I fail to see the point. You say this is an induction, not an interview so intellect and experience has already been gauge at interview and now this is introduction into the business and role. Therefore WTF does WW have to do with anything?
I agree we should never forget, but likewise I just do not see the relevance of the question.