Figure 1.--.
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Figure 1.--. |
Normally there is a heavy emphasis on local and British history, with some attention to ancient history. The approach to history varies quite a bit from school to school. At some schools the younger children might be presented with a wide range of historical subjects. We notice one school presenting Local and British history, Roman, history, and Egyptian history in separate terms during one year. Greek and Viking history is also commonly addressed. There is commonly some attention to British monarchs. The Tudors and Stuarts are particular favorites. The medieval era is usually studied in some detail which provides an opprtunity to assess more monarchs as well as cultural trends. There may be brief looks at other civiilzations such as the Aztecs and India. Other topics covered are normally the Civil War, Glorious Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution. Coverage of 20th century history is much more varied.
For two lessons every week we wander through time from the Ancient Britons to the French Revolution, in chronolgical order of course.
Forms 1 and 2: We begin with the ancient Britons and finish at about 1050. My aim is that History should be interesting, lively and above all FUN
"We have done a lot this year. The thing I liked best was the Saxon Village. It was brill." -- L. Tillotson
"My favourite bit was mosaics. My mosaic was of a flower." -- S. Harfield
Form 3: The 3rd Forms spend the year meandering through the Middle Ages, beginning with the Norman Invasion and ending at some part of the Wars of the Roses. It always interests me to see which event the children enjoy the most. One would expect the boys to enjoy the battles and most grusome events, but ...
"The Battle of Bannockburn was brilliant." -- E. Stagg
"Bad King John was cruel and wicked. He stuffed himself om peaches and cream and then died." -- F. Vyner
"I liked the Black Death best." -- L. Baker
"Some of the things we learnt about were utterly disgusting. I like History." -- L. Parker
Forms 4 and 5: The 4th Forms continue with the Tudors and Stuarts, and from there the 5th Forms look at events and famous people such as Clive in India, Wolfe in Canada, John Wesley and William Wiberforce -- from 1660 to 1815 approximately.
FW, Great Walstead Magazine 1987.
If I were an Egyptian poor boy, until I were five I would be allowed to play in the streets with my friends. But when I was five , I have to help my dad in the fields. I have to turn the water wheel to water the fields. When I am nine, I would have to help with the building of the pyramids and hen the king went to battle, the farmers had to come to -- they had no choice. Then the tax collector came. The farmers did not pay money, they paid their taxes with corn, bu most farmers could not pay their tax, so they were whipped. And when I am ten I would get married.
Matthew Hill, Junior Wyvern (Queen's College Junior School), 1989-90.
Other happy memories: the boy who wrote, "Henry II had had too much to drink and he said, 'who will rid me of this retch?"
The Wheasheaf (Pownall Hall), 1980.
A letter home from an observer at the Nattle of Crecy, 1346
Dear mother and Father
We were trying to get to Calais so we could escape across the sea, but the French were hot on our tails. So we made camp on the top of a small hill, just outside of a village called Crecy, and lined up in our battle formations.
The King (Edward III) was in the middle of our attack, and his son, the Black Prince, was on the right hand side of our front line.
The battle commnenced at about 2 p.m., much to the French King's disgust, because he wanted to begin in the morning, when his knights would be refreshed aftr a night's sleep.
This was basically a fight between our longbowmen, and the Genoese crossbowmen who originated from Italy.
The French started quite wellbut their crossbowmen took too long to reload, and so our longbowmen soon destroyed them.
Next was the turn of the French knights on their horses, but they were like the Genoese crossbowmen, showered with arrows.
So the battle ended in a great victory to us.
Nicholas Cartwright, The Wheasheaf (Pownall Hall), 1980.
The axe fell! The bllod spurted out in all directions! The bodiless head rolled into the basket! This was what Mrs. Kisch was describing to us -- the execution of Mary Queen of Scotts. Mrs. Kisch had started the lecture by descriving the building of the towee, after William I had won the Battle of Hastings. At first it was buikt of wood. She explained how the first prisoner in the Tower had escaped to France, and described the beauty of the Norman chapel. ....
Nicholas Sellers, 10 years, 4 months, Lambrook Chronicle, 1980.
Horses neighing, cannons roaring, drums beating, trumpets horrning,
The muskets stutter, the pikes clash and the helmets are shining
The battle is long and hard as many men fall.
The Cavalry charge and the Officers begin to call:
'Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge for your life!'
'Run! Run! Run! Run frim the strife!'
'Where is Prince Rupert?' 'Over there!'
'What shall we do?', 'Flee I fear!'
The Cavaliers run from the field of play,
Prince Rupert hides well in some hay.
'Pursue! Pursue! Pursue! Pursue unto death!'
'Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! But the men have no breath!'
Waggons and horses charge down men--
No time till afterwards for the pen.
'God made them stubble to our swords!"
Such indeed were great Cromwell's words.
Newcastle's Whitecoats dare not fly,
But stay, form up, and prefer to die.
From Marston Moor, in sixteen sixty-four
Cromwell drove from the field Royals and all.
R.S.G. Oliver, 12 years, 10 months, Lambrook Chronicle, 1980.
In the 1940's we were at war with Germany. Hitler had invaded half the world. I was in the British Army but we were driven out of France and Belgium. We came back to Britain to train. Then we went to fight the Germans in Africa. We had to go by ship. When we arrived, there was very hard fighting and it took us over two years to drive them out. Then we chased the Germans to Sicily and Italy but it took another two years to beat them.
Meanwhile other British troops and their Allies were fighting the Germans and the Japanese in other parts of the world. Finally the Germans and the Japanese were defeated and the world was at peace. Everyone celebrated.
James Cation (Form 2), The Aquileon, (Belmont School), Feldemore, 1986-87
The rattle of the guns pierced the cool night air,
The English waited at Dunkirk, their last retreating point,
Then all in a flash, the enemy guns roared,
We all tried to stop the attackers, advancing on our camp,
But the tanks crashed down, to the scene of destruction,
Shouting, cursing and horrified screams,
Came from Dunkirk that day.
The water was red, it was littered with bodies,
Repeatedly mown down by the oncoming boats,
Coming to collect the troops,
We all piled into the little craft,
But grenades still flew and bombs were dropped,
The battered boats sank to the sea-bed,
Resting among the mass of bodies,
We sailed awayfrom the horrific scene
And returned to our native land.
James Offord, 11 years, 3 months, Surge (Beeston Hall), Autumn 1988.
The wind howled and the sand blew into my eyes, stinging them until they were almost numb.
I was in North Africa during the Second World War. What had once been the almost invincible 'Afrika Corps' now lay scattered on the blood-soaked sand. Burning hulks, which had once been tanks were strewn all over the battlefield. Blazing anti-tank guns and half-tracks were grim reminders of the bloody battle that had once raged there. Dead bodies lay slumped over the tanks' interiors. Others were lying messily on the sand, which was strudded with craters, filled with drying mud. The vultures swarmed over the debris and began pecking at the rotting bodies. The so-called 'Kidney Ridge', the main British position, was strewn with knocked out field and anti-tank guns. The British had suffered too; msny British tanks lay blazing in the German minefields.
What was left of the demoralised Afrika Corps was now in steady retreat towards Tunisia. They were harassed all the way by the R.A.F. Many of the men had to waljk, for most of their transport lay blazing on the battle field. Hundreds were either captured or killed every day.
This was the Aftermath of Alamein, one of the bloodiest battles ever fought.
Abdrew Beckett, 10 years, 2 months, Lambrook Chronicle, 1980.
