Prince Charles to fight Government plans to kill off traditional lessons

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti....html#comments

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Traditional subjects such as history and geography will be sidelined in favour of teaching across themes and topics in the biggest shake-up of primary education for 20 years. Ed Balls vowed to press ahead with the controversial reforms despite widespread concern about the themed lessons approach, including opposition from Prince Charles. Under Mr Balls' plans, 13 stand-alone subjects will be merged into six 'areas of learning'.

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For example, history, geography and citizenship will be rolled together into 'historical, geographical and social understanding'. Teachers will no longer have to cover certain periods of history such as the Tudors, or choose between the Victorians or the Second World War. They will have to ensure they cover some British history but Government curriculum advisers concluded subject content 'simply has to be reduced'. Schools will also be told to devote more time to themed lessons, for example on social issues such as global warming. Minister said they could teach history and science together, or history and art.

There will also be a greater emphasis on technology in lessons, with youngsters learning about geography through Google Earth and studying blogging in English. Schools will have to teach sex education for children as young as five, when they will learn to label body parts. Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: 'We are moving from the subject-based national curriculum approach that exists within primary schools at the moment, to...the six areas of learning.

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I'm glad Prince Charles is standing up for the common sense in this country, the silent majortity. He will make a good King I think.

That's simply ridiculous. They're destroying the education system. They're going to turn the country into vegetables. Dear, dear God. I've always been an avid fan of labour recently I'm finding myself increasingly supporting the conservatives.

Good, teach them something which is happening now like climate change. Sex ed for kids is a great idea, theyll think its a joke but hey... I think as young as 5 is a bit extreme, but meh whatever. :S

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Originally Posted by Pyroka

Good, teach them something which is happening now like climate change. Sex ed for kids is a great idea, theyll think its a joke but hey... I think as young as 5 is a bit extreme, but meh whatever. :S

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It is highly debatable whether climate change is actually occuring with most scientists who say it is happening being in the payrolls of governments and Al Gore-linked agencies. It could be seen, especially in my view as pure propaganda which doesn't include all the facts and just appears to go by greenpeace videos of melting ice caps (which incidently are filmed in the summer because thats when ice melts and has done for millions of years).

Children have little idea of world war II, world war I or any other period now, do we want a nation full of Ed Balls?

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Originally Posted by -:Undertaker:-

It is highly debatable whether climate change is actually occuring with most scientists who say it is happening being in the payrolls of governments and Al Gore-linked agencies. It could be seen, especially in my view as pure propaganda which doesn't include all the facts and just appears to go by greenpeace videos of melting ice caps (which incidently are filmed in the summer because thats when ice melts and has done for millions of years). ...

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Exactly. I don't think it's right to focus on teaching something that isn't even certain. It would be like if all schools taught religious education, but obviously it's only Christian ones that do so. If Greenpeace wanna open a school and teach about global warming, then go ahead, but it shouldn't be enforced on the entire population.

Sex education at that age sounds outrageous but when you think about all the cases you hear of younger and younger girls getting pregnant, it's probably necessary at a very young age. Maybe a few years older than 5 would be adequate however.

Also, the traditional history subjects simply can not be ignored.

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For example, history, geography and citizenship will be rolled together into 'historical, geographical and social understanding'. Teachers will no longer have to cover certain periods of history such as the Tudors, or choose between the Victorians or the Second World War. They will have to ensure they cover some British history but Government curriculum advisers concluded subject content 'simply has to be reduced'. Schools will also be told to devote more time to themed lessons, for example on social issues such as global warming. Minister said they could teach history and science together, or history and art.

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What?! Why?! Thats absolutely stupid. History is probably one of the most important subjects after maths and english... why are they lumping it with art.

And themed lessons... boy does that make me die a little inside.

This seems like a terrible idea. Lumping subjects together would take away from either subject, it seems obvious that people learn more focusing on one topic rather than blurring the lines between them. It's also common sense to apply knowledge from one subject to another without a merging of lessons.

"Hey guys, a brand new day, lets think of another way we can ruin labour"

No matter how barmy some of the royals seems they always make sense, glad to hear it this time :).

I've always liked Charles.