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Gove and junior minister split over how to teach history of first world war Gove and junior minister split over how to teach history of first world war
(35 minutes later)
Michael Gove and one of his high-flying junior ministers disagree profoundly about the teaching of the causes and consequences of the first world war, according to the education secretary's opposite number, Tristram Hunt.Michael Gove and one of his high-flying junior ministers disagree profoundly about the teaching of the causes and consequences of the first world war, according to the education secretary's opposite number, Tristram Hunt.
Last week, Elizabeth Truss, childcare minister in the Department for Education, told the House of Commons that teachers should inform pupils that there are varying views on the conflict, and that it was up to teachers to decide how they taught the subject.Last week, Elizabeth Truss, childcare minister in the Department for Education, told the House of Commons that teachers should inform pupils that there are varying views on the conflict, and that it was up to teachers to decide how they taught the subject.
Truss told parliament: "The programme of study requires pupils to understand that different versions of past events may exist, and why this is so."Truss told parliament: "The programme of study requires pupils to understand that different versions of past events may exist, and why this is so."
Hunt, a former historian and TV presenter, said yesterday that Truss's comments show that not all the education secretary's colleagues share his trenchant views on the war. Truss is regarded as one of the government's most capable ministers and is tipped for promotion. Hunt, a historian and TV presenter, said yesterday that Truss's comments show that not all the education secretary's colleagues share his trenchant views on the war. Truss is regarded as one of the government's most capable ministers and is tipped for promotion.
The shadow education secretary said: "I am very glad to see that ministers have now decided to trust teachers to educate young people rather than subscribe to the Prussian-style diktats of the education secretary on the causes and consequences of world war."The shadow education secretary said: "I am very glad to see that ministers have now decided to trust teachers to educate young people rather than subscribe to the Prussian-style diktats of the education secretary on the causes and consequences of world war."
In an article for the Daily Mail this month, Gove dismissed historians who question the "just" character of the war as "left wing".In an article for the Daily Mail this month, Gove dismissed historians who question the "just" character of the war as "left wing".
Gove said: "The conflict has, for many, been seen through the fictional prism of dramas such as Oh! What a Lovely War, The Monocled Mutineer and Blackadder, as a misbegotten shambles, a series of catastrophic mistakes perpetrated by an out-of-touch elite. Even to this day there are left-wing academics all too happy to feed those myths."Gove said: "The conflict has, for many, been seen through the fictional prism of dramas such as Oh! What a Lovely War, The Monocled Mutineer and Blackadder, as a misbegotten shambles, a series of catastrophic mistakes perpetrated by an out-of-touch elite. Even to this day there are left-wing academics all too happy to feed those myths."
Gove was backed by the prime minister, who told one newspaper: "We should be clear that world war one was fought in a just cause and that our ancestors thought it would be bad to have a Prussian-dominated Europe." Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, agreed, saying it was a "sad but undeniable fact" that the war was "overwhelmingly the result of German expansionism and aggression".Gove was backed by the prime minister, who told one newspaper: "We should be clear that world war one was fought in a just cause and that our ancestors thought it would be bad to have a Prussian-dominated Europe." Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, agreed, saying it was a "sad but undeniable fact" that the war was "overwhelmingly the result of German expansionism and aggression".
But Hunt said this had been the wrong way to begin marking the 100th anniversary of the conflict. He claimed that such was the controversy over the comments that the Department for Education had become divided, an allegation denied by sources close to Gove. The source said there was no difference of opinion. The continuation of the row came as evidence emerged of a deepening divide between the educational establishment and Gove's department.But Hunt said this had been the wrong way to begin marking the 100th anniversary of the conflict. He claimed that such was the controversy over the comments that the Department for Education had become divided, an allegation denied by sources close to Gove. The source said there was no difference of opinion. The continuation of the row came as evidence emerged of a deepening divide between the educational establishment and Gove's department.
In his article, Gove made particular mention of the writings of Cambridge university professor Sir Richard Evans. Evans's work, the education secretary claimed, had attacked the very idea of honouring the sacrifice of those who died in the war as an exercise in "narrow tub-thumping jingoism". "These arguments are more reflective of the attitude of an undergraduate cynic playing to the gallery in a Cambridge Footlights revue than a sober academic contributing to a proper historical debate."In his article, Gove made particular mention of the writings of Cambridge university professor Sir Richard Evans. Evans's work, the education secretary claimed, had attacked the very idea of honouring the sacrifice of those who died in the war as an exercise in "narrow tub-thumping jingoism". "These arguments are more reflective of the attitude of an undergraduate cynic playing to the gallery in a Cambridge Footlights revue than a sober academic contributing to a proper historical debate."
However, it has emerged that the Historical Association, which represents professional and amateur historians, awarded Evans, who says his views have been misrepresented by Gove, the Norton Medlicott medal for "outstanding contribution to history".However, it has emerged that the Historical Association, which represents professional and amateur historians, awarded Evans, who says his views have been misrepresented by Gove, the Norton Medlicott medal for "outstanding contribution to history".
A statement from the association said: "Early in 2014, he [Evans] was a protagonist in a major national debate about the teaching and commemoration of the first world war. Sir Richard's robust contributioxn in the press and on radio and TV made him popular with his peers, with teachers in schools, and with all those who have a serious interest in history."A statement from the association said: "Early in 2014, he [Evans] was a protagonist in a major national debate about the teaching and commemoration of the first world war. Sir Richard's robust contributioxn in the press and on radio and TV made him popular with his peers, with teachers in schools, and with all those who have a serious interest in history."
Professor Jackie Eales, president of the Historical Association, told the Observer that she also lamented the way the 100th anniversary of the conflict had been launched by the government. "I think the politicians have overreacted," she said. "I don't think it is the place of an education secretary to try to shape how a particular topic is taught. There are academics who have studied and researched it over many years."Professor Jackie Eales, president of the Historical Association, told the Observer that she also lamented the way the 100th anniversary of the conflict had been launched by the government. "I think the politicians have overreacted," she said. "I don't think it is the place of an education secretary to try to shape how a particular topic is taught. There are academics who have studied and researched it over many years."