Primary for Prehistory

Robin Place advocates a key role for prehistory in capturing interest for things historical in school.

One of the few ways in which humans can be defined as different from animals is that we have an interest in our past. Can we use our past, the story of humankind as reconstructed by history and archaeology, as a core to the school curriculum? Current concern about the environment demonstrates that we should be thinking as one world, on a supranational scale. The school is the starting point for children to grow up as world citizens. Children will always ask 'Why do I have to go to school?' We could reply, 'To find out about the story of humankind and how you fit into it'.

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