Rounded approach to our history vital

SR Jones moved the interesting debate about Arthur to a new and important consideration (“Welsh history should be taught in schools”, WM letters, September 29).

The post-Roman or Age of the Saints has too often been ignored or glossed over in our schools, as has the Age of the Princes.

The result is that our children have a fragmented and incomplete picture of our history.

The First Minister acknowledged, earlier this year that Welsh history has not been well taught in our schools, in a debate relating to the home of Llywelyn Fawr.

At the same time it is encouraging to understand that the Minister for Culture is asking Cadw to provide publicity information about the homes of the Welsh princes.

This is welcome, but sadly many Welsh people are unaware of the histories surrounding princes such as Owain Gwynedd, Lord Rhys the two Llywelyns and Owain Glyndwr. It is surely time to ensure that these gaps in our knowledge are rectified in the new humanities curriculum.

The Western Mail published two articles which reflected the concerns of many on October 1. The oldest house in Wales, built in 1402, was described in the context of Owain Glyndwr’s contemporaneous rebellion. How many Welsh people know this story and the significance of the Battle of Hyddgen?

Another article outlined chronologically the history of our native language and referred to the various dialects we have.

Will this history be incorporated in the new curriculum?

The omens are not good. A slavish adherence to the Donaldson proposals has weakened the position of history within the humanities sector, and a non-prescriptive approach is likely to ignore key periods of our history yet again.

The pupils will continue to learn about historical developments without sufficient context to fully understand the background, or indeed the changing nature of historical evidence.

As SR Jones suggested, we need a comprehensive and chronological approach to the teaching of history for five- to 14-year-olds before it becomes an optional subject.

W Thomas Carmarthen