Right. So people have been talking of late about teaching British values and British History in the UK & how they feel it should be done better.. The problem is, when ever they say this, what they actually mean is: "Make kids memorise the dates when the English won something 1/n"

That's all history is to them. A list of glorious victories for the English. Stamford Bridge, Agincourt, Crécy, Waterloo, Dunkirk, D-Day. That's British history to those on the right. To look at history through this lens is down right dangerous, and overlooks so much. 2/n

You find many a Brexiter who talks of being pure bread Anglo-Saxon, clearly showing a lack of understanding of the purpose of a hyphen... But it overlooks that the Angles were a Germanic tribe, from what is now Denmark. The Saxons from what is now North Western Germany. 3/n

They then talk about the Normans, and that one big 11th century sour point. Hastings. Where the Descendants of two Germanic tribes, lose a battle with descendants of Norse vikings. Immigrants, fighting immigrants, fighting a battle in the Kingdom of England. 4/n

Note tho, Kingdom of England. They talk of British History, yet, this is in England, Britain doesn't exist as a country yet. What was happening in Wales at this time? What about Scotland? Who know,s they never teach that bit... 5/n

We teach the battle, Hours and hours of classroom time devoted to the activities of Senlac ridge, yet more significant to what will become Britain is what happens next. The way Norman rule disseminates across England can be seen today, in our language, and in our laws. 6/n

And this is the problem with teaching history as a succession of battles. We over look the political, legal, linguistic, and cultural impact. We miss out on how Technological developments influence our history. I'm gonna pause this thread here, Will resume in a bit. 7/n.