Going to the dark side
HISTORY re-enactment series BACK IN TIME FOR SCHOOL (BBC2, 8pm) is moving on tonight to the 1970s, a decade about which these modern-day pupils swiftly draw one overriding conclusion.
In a nutshell, it’s: “Weren’t the 1970s horrible, what with all that inequality?”
This, you’ll note, is very different from the conclusion they reached in last week’s episode, the gist of which was: “Weren’t the 1960s horrible, what with all that inequality?” and, indeed, the one from the episode before, which was – hang on, let me just check my notes… ah, yes, here we are… “Weren’t the 1950s horrible, what with all that inequality?”
“Well, yes, of course they were,” comes the reply tonight from one of the wiser modern-day teachers steering them through this series.
“Thank God the world has moved on. But listen, if all we ever do is judge the past from our own 21st-century perspective then we’ll keep on coming to that same blindingly obvious conclusion – and it’s not enough.
“If we really want to learn from history, we must put ourselves in the shoes of these previous generations, to understand each era in the context of what had gone before, to recognise that each merely takes its own tiny step, as best it sees fit at the time, along the long road towards a fairer society.”
Yes, all right, I’ve made that all up. None of the teachers says anything of the sort. As if.
Having said that, the teaching style is about to change quite dramatically at the establishment these pupils are now attending, a recreation of a 1970s Birmingham comprehensive. That’s because the head has decided to embrace some of that decade’s most radical educational ideas, giving the pupils far more say in how they’re taught.
Most notably, the uniform is ditched, allowing them to dress as they please. (Interestingly, nobody dares to point out that this is actually a move away from equality, rather than towards it). Also, when these kids address their teachers there will be no more of that “Miss” and “Sir” business.
“From now on, you can call us by our first names,” announces the head. “So you can call me Sue…”
Such radicalism has an immediate impact. For the next English lesson, for example, there are no books. Instead, the teacher kicks off her shoes, lights an incense stick and plays the pupils the classic 1973 album Dark Side Of The Moon (right).
But how long, we wonder, before the novelty wears off and they’re longing to actually learn things again? “I’m not being funny,” one kid is soon complaining, “but when in my life am I going to have to analyse some Pink Floyd lyrics?”
Elsewhere tonight, a two-part DEATH IN PARADISE (BBC1, 9pm) begins in an unusually jolly mood as the islanders prepare to crown their new festival queen. But then she… oh, go on, take a wild guess.
Also, don’t miss THE SECRET LIFE OF THE ZOO (C4, 8pm). Not if you want to see what butterflies get up to when they’re drunk. Which you do.