Sixth Form History Conference
Date: Friday 29 February 2008
Every year, the History Department attempts to enrich its delivery of the A-level curriculum by taking its pupil members to a number of professionally organised conferences in London, where university academics address the key issues of either Soviet Russia or Late Nineteenth Century/Early Twentieth Century British History, and hope to enthuse sixth formers who might at a later stage choose to grace their university campus.
Thursday of this week saw the Lower Sixth historians - 13 of them - travel to the Conway Hall in Holborn for four separate presentations on the thorny subject of 'Gladstone and Disraeli', the integral core of AS Unit 3. Specialist teacher Robert Robinson always enjoys the prospect of these conferences - there must surely be a new and exhilarating 'take' on the topic - and hopes to broaden his own understanding of the key issues.
Sadly, this conference did not live up to expectations, and, without naming eminent names, only the first of the four presentations fitted the bill, and the second was so hastily and thoughtlessly cobbled together that it was valueless. The fourth lecture, on the historiography of the period made it clear that the presenter had read none of the new texts of the last five years!
Next Tuesday, when the Upper Sixth are to be regaled on the issue of Stalinist Russia, needs to be a better day - otherwise a group of dispirited pupils and staff will be wondering why professional educators sometimes get it wrong! Bob Service and Chris Ward MUST be at their best!
