Whose history?

A crucial debate about our children’s education will take place this Monday in London. Organized by BASA, the meeting will seek to scrutinize the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove’s proposals for a new curriculum for Schools in England and Wales.

Earlier this year Black groups including OBV gained a partial victory in regards to ensuring both Mary Seacole and Olaudah Equiano stay on the National Curriculum.

However, there are key elements in Gove’s new plans which should cause every parent, particularly BME parents, to have grave concerns. Gove has sought to adopt a time chronological history starting with the Ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome, then children are taught about the early civilizations of Britain: Stone Age, Celtic, Anglo Saxon and Viking settlement. Using this narrow chronological path the result is that no child will be taught about a person or culture of colour until they are at senior school-11years eleven old.

Until our children are 11, The history of the world will be taught through the very narrow prism of white Europeans. No mention about fantastically civilized African ultures of the ancient Egyptian - many of whom where from Central Africa – or those of Ethopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Northern Nigeria. Some of these sophisticated civilisastions which, in the case of Sudan date back more than 5,000, and have a chronilogical impact on civilizations of the West today.

The organization BASA and others including OBV will ask Michael Gove MP to radically rethink his plans to ensure all our children will know the richness of British and world history which is beyond the narrow lens of white Europeans. If we get this right the early teaching of our children will help positively shape the way they view themselves and the world around them.

Officials from the Department of Education will be at the event on Monday night. Let’s ensure as many people as possible are there so that they can hear our views and see how passionate we are about our children’s education.

Simon Woolley

The event will take place at:

Arts 1 Lecture Theatre, Mile End Campus
Queen Mary, University of London, E1 4NS, London
Monday, March 25, 2013 from 6:00 PM