History is such an unpopular subject...

It is my experience that a lot of people find history quite interesting, albeit as a hobby rather than an occupation. (much like I consider natural sciences in fact. Interesting, but not so much you want to study it... )

The Average knowledge of hte past in the UK is actually pretty good, especially when compared to otherp people and their History.

You appear to be complaining about the methods of teaching history to Kids in Schools - well kids are taught in the curriculum about many periods and about many different parts of History.

The foundations of Nationalism in Europe are rather obscure and really are not particularly easy for anyone under University level or at least Sixth form to understand. WW2 and modern History get the most attention because of the significance placed upon it for contemporary society and identity. WW2 is extremely significant to the way in which people think today and is part of the Countrys living past. However, Schools are diversifying their points of study, from the Tudor period, to 60's culture. There has been a lot of effort put into making history in schools much more than just war. If you look back 40years there has been a MASSIVE improvement, it is probably the most improved subject within the curriculum.

Movies are about entertainment. They are historically accurate to an extent. In Troy a Historian from Oxford was used and is actually in the Film, his advice was used extensively in attempting to make the film as close to the History as possible. Personally, I don't think they have done a bad job of it. As for Alexander, i've no idea, I haven't seen it. The worst films are those that attempt to 'change' history in some way - Braveheart for instance.

Anyhow, how to get around history being seen as boring subject? Well by having good teachers - all subjects in all schools are viewed in terms of the teachers and not the subjects.

Now that the world is increasingly globalised and corporatised, the emphasis has shifted away from nationalism - history becomes more of a hobby than a practical tool.

its called 'boring' and 'geeky' and is an easy target for mockery

As far as school history is concerned, this is 100% true.
Which is the root of the issue.

I think that the problem lies in the increasing role of the corporations in governing public life. On the one hand it creates a shift in social values towards the appreciation of profit as the sole meaningful occupation in life. Which is why we hear commenst such as 'gosh, that is so interesting... but what kind of work can you get with it?', which is a way to say that since you can't make money with history, it is not worthwhile. On the other hand, historical knowledge arms people who are thinkers with dangerous knowledge which could potentially conduce to ideas subversive to the corporate establishment. History thus becomes relegated to the status of hobby, popular history to the realm of myth (money-making of course), history in schools is given few resources and thus is taught by poor teachers. A good historian is also a social and political scientist who can become aware of propaganda or political manipulation. This is not the kind of person that large scale institutions encourage. The apparent success of history as a subject in the 19th century was due to the use of history as a propaganda tool by the state. Since the state is losing ground to institutions which have found other ways of making use of history (entertainment as opposed to propaganda), we see a decline in the prestige of history.

Edited by Decebal - 09-Jul-2007 at 01:02

 There is a problem, and it's almost the same problem as with math; "Boring" or "geeky".  part of the problem is the way it is often taught: In the year 1465, this happened, which helped along the revolution of so-and-so. History should be taught, i think, in a more hands-on fashion. Learn what civil war medics had to do to get people off the battlefield by making a stretcher in the same style, and having students lift it. Explain in detail how ancient surgeons could remove an arrowhead from the skull. Ask students what they would do in a historical figure's shoes. Give colorful imagery.

I love history, for two reasons. First, the old statement-those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. It really helps to understand where you're going.

Also, to study history requires a certain amount of knowledge in many fields, from engineering, biology, math, anthropology, sociology, and chemistry to  economics, political science, and art.  History makes you better at everything else, because what you're studying is, essentially, a compilation of almost every field imaginable. 

You are right that history can seem too dry for some. but it doesn't have to be that way, much like many other fields that are viewed similarly.


Edited by TheARRGH - 13-Aug-2007 at 23:27

Those not-so-brilliant teachers can easily mess up it if you ever thought it was interesting.

And I have to agree, mostly, at the school (and I believe also at the Uni) levels, when you are good at history you are an abnormal entity... :p

And Aster is correct... Dates aren't important. It's what happened on those dates that is important. Most teachers also pursue the dates and that's what irritates people.