Why History Matters

Since my posting about Simon Schama's appointment to review the history curriculum article, he has published 'Why history still matters' in Guardian2 (9 November). It is an excellent polemic to kick start the process. He opens with a clear message to the ConDem Coalition that appointed him that while he has accepted the Review role, he does not agree with them:

'Whatever else gets cut in this time of nicks and scrapes, incisions and mutilations, the cord of our national memory had better not be among the casualties.'

At this stage what is important about the article is the polemic, not the choice of 6 key events child should know about. We can have a debate about whether the 6 should be different or should be added to. What is important is the thinking about the choices that emerge.