I have been looking round locally with the intention of taking evening classes to gain a history A level. There doesn’t seem to be any available, anywhere, no one seems to be running them. Has history gone out of fashion, is there a lack of interest or is it just a lack of funds?
I know history seems a bit of an odd choice of subject for someone who works with his hands but I work with history all the time. The anvils I use are probably over a hundred years old, one that I own personally is well over a hundred years old, (it has a beautiful ring to it when struck with a hammer) some of my tools belonged to my grandfather, he died in 1978 aged 84 and most of his tools were old then.
History for me is not just about wars, dates of battles and the names of monarchs, it is about how things, were why they were, why things are now and how they might be in the future because of how things are now and were before. It strikes me that we cannot plan for the future if we haven’t learned the lessons from the past, if we neglect the past, are we failing to plan for the future?
The man who chairs the Federal Reserve Bank in America, Ben Bernanke studied the Great Depression, its causes and effects. This knowledge of this particular piece of history has helped shape the policies he has followed in trying to prevent a repitition of another Great Depression, although it will be some time yet before we know whether he and others have been successful. Without knowledge of the history of this calamity there would be a greater difficulty in planning to deal with our current problems.
Those of us who make anything, design things or work in business are building on the foundations that history have given us, anyone worth their salt, involved in any form of activity looks at what has been tried before, what has failed, what has succeeded and why, this is building on history.
Given all this it surprises me that the teaching of history is not regarded as important, it is to me as senseless as not teaching maths, as everyone has calculators or computers.
Neil Kinnock once said of Margeret Thatcher, “she knows the price of everything and the value of nothing “.
However Oscar Wilde said it before him.
Comments
Have you thought of distance learning instead. I just googled A level history and quite a few searches came up. I am fascinated by history myself and agree with you that the current lack of interest is very sad indeed. There was a recent poll of children (can't remember their ages) but about 25% had no idea who Winston Churchill was. Saying that a 30 year old lady I used to work with didn't either.
I have thought about distance learning Jenny but think I would get on better in a formal enviroment.
I started my computer studies with Learn Direct but at our local library where I had the help of some very patient ladies.
The most important figure from history around this area was Oliver Cromwell, most local people no nothing of him or what he acheived, which is pretty sad.
What you say about tools struck a chord, I use my Great Grandfather's border spade and fork.
Given how many 18 year olds re-sit A levels its amazing that no colleges offer evening courses. You could try giving the local education authority a call and see if they have any info on courses in your area.
People's general lack of knowledge or interest in the past is pretty shocking in my opinion. The past fascinates me. Know what you mean about distance learning, I found it hard to stay focused on my horticulture course though I got there in the end
I checked on all the local college websites I could think of Tanya and apart from A level courses in schools (six form colleges) there was nothing else on offer, certainly no evening classes.
Did you know your great grandfather?
I know when I use dads' or grandads' tools I always think of them.
I am glad you managed to get through your horticulture course Jenny, if you haven't got to go somewhere to do the course, it's easy to find something more pressing to engage your attention.
I find that is an advantage of the Businesslink courses they are short enough to be able to find the time to do them and they are out of the work enviroment.
Phil.
Totally correct, the best subject, thanks for your brilliant post.
History, always has had a habit of repeating itself, as you mention with regards to the current banking issues.
For it was in the late '20's when the USA and indeed ourselves removed many of the regulations regarding banking and share investment, which was considered at the time a "safe place" for money with no risk at the time. Then came the Wall Street crash, followed by a world wide depression, which in a way lead to the rise of fascism in the '30's, and all that followed.
Following this, the world united, and held these institutions to account, through people's and government.
Fifty years later, the dire economics of the '80's through regan and thatcher removed many of these regulations in their dream of the free, unregulated market. This market had already failed once, but these this gormless bunch wanted to give it a second chance.
A few years later it came about, that the UK acually elects fascists to run local Councils and to represent Britain in Europe. Gladly, things have turned again in the last year, and fascists have been defeated in many local Councils across the UK, for now.
Forget terrorism, the rise, or potential rise of fascism is our greatest threat, remember fascists killed 6 million Jews, 1½ million Britains, 20 million Russians, and so on, it's a long list.
Best that we learn from it.
Sadly I never met my Great Grandfather, his tools came to me after my Great Aunt and Grandmother died.
Your Local Education Authority is the govt. body for education. Look them up online and give them a call. They are the best people to start the search as they should have details of all the schools colleges etc in your area offering History A level.
Good luck
Tina and Steve
I too am worried about how closely our current times may repeat the thirties, with the same outcome at the end a possibility too awful to contemplate.
When I was an apprentice my foreman told me of his time in the depression in Newcastle, his father was a shipyard worker who had lost his job, they were means tested for the dole and had to sell their possesions in before they received any help.
The problem with our politicians, though Osbourne, Clegg and Cameron are easy targets, I think it is far more general, they have not had the experience of suffering the hardship which results from failed policies. I would make it a rule that any member of the government can only use the national health service for themselves and their families, their children can only go to the state schools in their constituency and the MPs should live in social housing again in their constituency.
I would think we would have the fastest improvement in these areas seen in decades.
It is a shame you never knew you never knew your Great Grandfather Tanya but by using his tools you have at least that connection with him. I remember as a small boy watching my father straighten nails by laying them over one hammer head and straightening them with another hammer, in effect using the first hammer as a small anvil. Whilst performing the same operation in front of my son I wondered how many generations of my family had been shown this technique.
I will try and contact the education authority although nothing seemed to come up last time I looked on the website, thanks for the advice.
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