.  bluebellnutter wrote:Learning the kings and queens of England is distinctly NOT important. What would be better is to teach them about European history since 0000 and do things which would appeal to young minds.  The reasons for the collpse of Communism, the rise of Hitler or the foundations of the welfare state are immesnely more relevant and important than who the King was in 0000 or the Tudor attitudes toward sailing.  Modern history is important but (and this might be a result of doing nothing but modern history in school from about year 0 to A Level) it's not everything. And it's really fucking dull after you've done nothing but Hitler and 00th-century politics. You need to have some appreciation of the further past as well, unless you want a horribly utilitarian curriculum.  Oh undoubtedly, however I think that by the time the important bit comes round it's the time when it's an optional subject and many don't do it, and thus don't learn about it. Therefore, rather than having all the old stuff pre-year 0 and the modern stuff post-year 0 (as it is now), mix them up a bit.  