Posted on 07/13/2007 4:25:16 PM PDT by Inquisitive1
Edited on 07/13/2007 4:46:05 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Secondary schools will strip back the traditional curriculum in favour of lessons on debt management, the environment and healthy eating, ministers revealed.
Even Winston Churchill no longer merits a mention after a drastic slimming-down of the syllabus to create more space for "modern" issues.
Along with Hitler, Gandhi, Stalin and Martin Luther King, the former prime minister has been dropped from a list of key figures to be mentioned in history teaching.
This means pupils may no longer hear about his stirring speeches during the Second World War, when he told Parliament that defeating Hitler would be Britain's "finest hour".
The only individuals now named in guidance accompanying the curriculum are anti-slavery campaigners Olaudah Equiano and William Wilberforce.
The omission of Churchill added to a growing row over Labour reforms to secondary education - the most radical since the national curriculum was introduced in 1988.
Critics warned traditional subject disciplines were being stripped of key content and used to promote fashionable causes and poorly-defined "life skills".
They said that while the two World Wars remain on the curriculum as broad topics the failure to specify teaching on Churchill - while naming other individuals - downgraded his importance.
The move was called "madness" by his grandson Nicholas Soames, the Tory MP.
"It is absurd. I expect he wasn't New Labour enough for them," he said.
Tory spokesman on children Michael Gove added: "Winston Churchill is the towering figure of twentieth century British history.
"His fight against fascism was Britain's finest hour. Our national story can't be told without Churchill at the centre."
Schools are also being told to tear up the timetable of eight lessons a day and introduce classes lasting a few minutes - or several hours - by mixing different subjects together.
Five-minute lessons on spelling, French or German could be "drip-fed" throughout the day.
The architect of the new curriculum, Dr Ken Boston, insisted traditional approaches had been "exhausted".
The slimline regime is being introduced amid concerns that teachers do not have enough time to ensure youngsters master the three Rs.

Gettin' better though!
You mean Hitler really existed?? does this mean the Holocaust was real????
Down the tubes.
"We've tried everything but they just won't learn what we tell them to! So we figure, if we stop teaching altogether, then they'll be as ignorant as us and, um ... what was the question again?"
It always amazes me that so many education "reformers" start from the assumption that no one learned anything before they came on the scene.
“Those who would forget the past, are doomed to repeat it”
More madness!
Healthy Eating?
I like the Churchill diet—
two bottles of champagne and one of brandy
every day.
Of course. He still exists, only he goes by the name Bush now. Don't you read DU?
Seriously, everywhere you go, if the government is involved in schooling, the education sucks unless you are looking for socialist indoctrination and pop culture trivia.
Good post.
[Don't really need this '/sarc' do I?]

You didn't mess with this man. Britian would do well to remember him every chance they get.
And several cigars. Lived until 95, too.
Where are the parents? I would raise hell!!
Good post, thanks.
Britain is turning into one big swirlee... Sad.
LLS
Took me a second, but I got it!
It’s 1984 all over again.
I was going to comment “There goes the Empire” - but it already left decades before.
Depressing!
It’s not even political, because they left out Stalin, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, too.
I don’t know who that leaves. Maybe the Beatles?
British History textbook....
“Once upon a time, we quit eating meat, lived on organic veggies, and fought global warming. We lived happily ever after.”
The end.
“I dont know who that leaves. Maybe the Beatles?”
Yes, and they can incorporate John Lennon’s macrobiotic diet
into the lectures. Healthy eating, doncha know : )
Have no fear. They will repeat it the followers of the pervert.. uh..prophet will see to it. England is gone they just have not sunk beneath the water yet.
And if the Democrat Party and main stream media have their way the United States will soon follow.
Sleeping till 10 AM helped him get to 95.
Sleep—the greatest medicine.
There was a story that when Churchill was questioning Montgomery on his fitness to lead the British troops, he asked Monty if he smoked or drank alcohol.
To which Montgomery replied “No Sir, I like to stay healthy”
Winnie responded “I smoke cigars, drink brandy and I’m healthy as an ox”
Did you do a search for the article?
We’ve been on this all day at the link below.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1865231/posts
I have never understood why Churchill went to war over over Poland in 1939 and then abandoned Poland in 1945.
Or was it Clement Attlee who abandoned Poland, with Churchill in dissent?
Churchill says: "Yes, Madam. And you're ugly. But in the morning, I'll be sober."
If they’re not going to teach about Hitler, how are the young skulls full of mush going to learn to compare Bush to him?
Monty—one of histories greatest foils.
In this case it seems they are actively seeking for the victory of the camel humping headbanging hitlers.
When do we wake up and declare them for what they are TRAITORS!
The schools need to spend more time teaching about that great figure in 20th Century Britain, Neville Chamberlain.
Inviting Islamists to the Island...kicking God out...surrendering sovereignty to Brussels...refusing to name their enemies...and now this.
Britain’s fate is sealed.
Beat me to it.
Woman to Churchill: Mr Churchill, you're drunk.
Churchill: Yes, and you madame, are ugly. Tomorrow I shall be sober and you'll still be ugly.
Woman to Churchill: Mr Churchill, if you were my husband I would poison you.
Churchill: Madame, if you were my wife, I should take it!
Some of us just as tech-savvy as others, I guess.
This is just plain stupid.
PROPAGANDA! What they don’t know won’t hurt them!
The look on Churchill’s face is classic. I read somewhere that the photographer grabbed his cigar away from him right before he took the shot.
I haven't heard that one before. That is REALLY funny!
sleep till ten, stay in bed till after noon, then work like mad until four AM, saving western civilization!
Absolutely spot on!
Those who forget their history are doomed....
to repeat it.
Oh, and anyone else have to suffer through visualization nonsense? I suppose that beat the wicca lady who was my psychology teacher. She brought in an astrologer, a mind reader, and some other wackos. She made us watch Helter Skelter (as did my sociology teacher...what's up with that?), draw up our own astrology charts, stare at people and try to see their auras, etc.
Who needs history when you have all these other goofy things to talk about?
Story about this photo:
January 27, 1941. Churchill just came to 10th Downing Street for shooting a few pictures showing his stamina and toughness. However, the Churchill look far too relaxed with the cigar, which is inconsistent with Carter's idea. He walked up to Churchill and pull the cigar away from the mouth. Churchill was infuriated as a result. At the moment Churchill angry eyes stared at Carter, Carter press the shutter. This photo become one of the most famous photos of Churchill.
Re your post” “Never lose your ignorance; you can never regain it!”
Please remember, these are liberals/leftists. They can always regain their ignorance. They do it every day here in the US. Just like a salamander losing a tail, they are skilled at regenerating ignorance on a daily basis.
Just look at our MSM newspapers on a daily basis, and the garbage that comes out of Congress on a daily basis.
Remember, with the Left, there is no limit to their ability to be, remain, and regain “ignorance”.
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