What is History?

 

At best, exciting stories about heroes and villains from the past; at worst, a dull catalogue of dates and events. Such is many people’s impression of school History. But what do boys aged 6 to 13 learn from studying the subject?

Even at schoolboy level History involves researching and evaluating evidence, both primary and secondary, and seeking a fair and accurate account of events and people’s actions. It involves ‘experiencing’ a different culture and world-view to contrast (favourably and unfavourably) with one’s own contemporary one. It means trying to understand present-day values, institutions and problems by seeing how they have arisen – e.g. constitutional monarchy and Parliamentary government; belief in freedom of speech and right to a fair trial; Catholic-Protestant conflict in Northern Ireland; the number of Christian denominations in Britain and their differences; the consequences and responsibilities of empire; etc.

 

Here at Tower House we cover: Egyptians; the Home Front in World War Two; Romans, Saxons and Vikings; Normans and the Middle Ages; Tudors and Stuarts; and Victorians. (Twentieth Century history we leave to the senior schools).
At Common Entrance the boys have been prepared in the skills of evaluating sources and writing essays which not only narrate but also analyse.

 

We go on trips (e.g. the British Museum and Museum of London, York, Normandy, Hampton Court, the Houses of Parliament). We research on the internet and use DVD video resources.

 

We hope to produce boys who possess not only knowledge but also a spirit of enquiry; together with the ability to criticise (astutely) both evidence and theories.