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The Prince of Wales is on a collision course with ministers over plans to axe traditional history and geography teaching in primary schools.
Bernice McCabe, one of the Prince's closest advisers, said Charles was “passionate” about protecting the jewels of English literature and preserving lessons in British history.
Mrs McCabe, a leading headmistress, condemned reforms to education that she said had reduced schools to “globalised theme parks”. In an interview with the Standard, she said too many children are taught skills instead of historical dates, basic science and classic books.
The remarks come on the day Children's Secretary Ed Balls announces that he is abolishing established subject headings in primary schools.
Under the Government's plan, pupils as young as five will study blogging and Google Earth, while history and geography will be rolled into themed lessons on social issues such as global warming.
Traditional subjects will be replaced with six new areas of learning, such as “historical, geographical and social understanding” and “understanding physical development, health and wellbeing”.
Mrs McCabe, co-director of the Prince's Teaching Institute, said Charles believed the rigorous teaching of subject knowledge was the foundation of a good education.
“He is very passionate about the fact that children need a good grasp of literature and that all children need to understand the history of our country,” she said. “He is passionate that these subjects should remain there in the curriculum.”
Pupils “might be excited” by spending a week on a project about global warming in which they are supposed to learn a combination of history, science and geography. But they would probably not remember the science or geography behind climate change, she said.
Mrs McCabe is headmistress of North London Collegiate School in Stanmore, an independent girls' school. She was headhunted to run the Prince of Wales's education summer schools for history and English teachers, and then to lead the Prince's Teaching Institute.
Mrs McCabe said Charles would never openly criticise the Government but that it was “right and proper” for him to take an interest in state education.
Ministers today denied that British history was being sidelined in the new primary curriculum, which will be introduced from 2011.
Schools minister Vernon Coaker said: “Sometimes it's a mistake to believe that just by teaching a subject you encourage understanding and interest. Of course the subject content is important, but also it's when you embed it in other things that it generates interest.”
A spokesman for the Prince of Wales declined to comment.
The six new areas of learning
Understanding English, communication and languages
Children should learn to read, speak, write and listen in English and “engage” with other languages.
Mathematical understanding
Geometry, risk and problem-solving. Children should find how to manage money and work sums out in their head, on paper and on a computer.
Understanding the arts
Includes art, design, dance, drama and music. Children use computers, paint or clay to make art works.
Historical, geographical and social understanding
Using maps and documents, emails, video conferencing and podcasting to study “aspects of” all history.
Physical development, health and wellbeing
Pupils learn about healthy living, take part in sports, learn about sex and relationships.
Scientific and technological understanding
Study the natural and man-made world; investigate “relevant and current issues”.
Reader views (43)
It's a bit rich Charles commenting on education when he is so scientifically illiterate he believes in nonsense like homeopathy.
- Jill, London
You couldn't make it up how out of touch Labour are with the British people.
- Dan Dan, Kent, UK
Blogging and Google Earth? Why do we need to teach this to children in schools? Children can easily figure these things out for themselves if they have the right tools - and the right tools are a proper grounding in history, reading, language and literature which foster understanding and eloquence. Prince Charles is so right about this! My 78-year old mother can still recite poetry which she learned by memory as a child in school - and she has always insisted that one of the most important ways for children to learn is through memory exercises - and she is right - and this should include learning poetry, literature and history as well as foreign languages. Children will be lured to sit in front of a computer soon enough - what we need to do in schools is to train children to appreciate the great works of western civilization as well as an appreciation and knowledge of history of this country and foreign cultures - learning from our past really is the only way forward.
- Abf, London, UK
Good for Charles!..
We have a proud history and it is our duty to hand it on.
A knowledge of history adds a great deal to the enjoyment of Enlish Literature and a visit to historical sites.
- Bill Chaplin, Camden, UK
Labour and this government are communists they are trying to get rid of the English history . This is what our forebears did and how we legislated our laws etc the magna carta which there are an aweful lot of countries still abide by today just look around the world and see who have adopted some of our ways etc. we have a wonderful history and it pulls in tourists I do not want a global village that is sheer nonsense I want my own country and I want to feel proud of it. we are not all the same around the world and it is madness to suggest otherwise why do you think we have all these problems with the banking immigration etc because a few mindless creatures think we should have globalisation in everything IT DOES NOT WORK
- Jacqui Williams, peterborough cambs
One must agree with Prince Charles, this is yet more
dumbing down of British history and heritage and the British way of life.
Well done Sir!
- Terence, London
Prince Charles is absolutely correct. We need to know about our history. It will help future generations to make decisions. In years to come we should be aware of the dreadful fate of the Princess Diana, the treachery of princes and kings called Charles and the unspeakable Mrs Parker Bowles' of this world. Children should not be allowed to forget.
- Mj, East Anglia
The Labour Party has politicized education for years - remember Barbara Castle? Charles is absolutely right and its good to see he has the guts to stand up and be counted. Where's the Tory Party in all this? The country needs to return to traditional values and this sort of stupidity isn't going to help.
- David Welch, Washington DC USA
You can bet your life that Mr Ball's old school, Nottingham High (very expensive,highly selective) will not go in for any of the rubbish teaching he proposes, nor will most of the prep schools which feed it. Same old thing - prescribed pap for the people, but politicians' and journalists' kids will still go to Grammar schools or go private, with very few exceptions.
Runs in the family - Balls' father was a leading campaigner for comprehensive education, very loud anddemanding that all should be thus educated - yet he sent his own son private. Of course he did.
- Liz, London, UK
We need to prepare our children for the future, and to compete in a global village. Giving them some 1950s education out of an Enid Blyton book, which Prince Charles would seem to advocate, is completely ridiculous. Information is all around us these days; children need to learn the skills to find it and use it. They don't really need to memorise facts. I think Charles should remember that one day he is going to have to serve as a politically neutral head of state; he might want to keep his outspoken personal opinions a bit quieter.
- Alastair, London, UK
Perfect! That will ensure that the children of the well-to-do get a proper education, and, that the kids of all the labour-voting masses prepare themselves adequately for a life of "would you like large fried with that?". You couldn't make it up.
- Haskey, London SE1
Somebody once wrote in my Autograph Album " Our deeds still travel from afar, And what we have been makes us what we are." I was very young when he wrote that but I have never forgotten it. If we don't know what we were, how can we know what we are now? Adopted children look for their birth parents and families... it is a way of knowing where they came from. History lessons do the same, and without a sense of belonging we are lost as a nation.
- Joan, London UK
a people who ignore history have no past and have no future. The UK is already on that path. Change now or say goodbye to yourselves.
- Jonvic, SC USA
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland
And what qualifies the numpty Ed Balls?
Prince Charles certainly has a lot more experience in all walks of life than the idiot Balls does - wisdom comes with age. The 'chippy' Balls lives in some fantasy socialist utopia a long way from reality.
- Tom W, London
These labour fools will do anything to minimalise our past; for some reason they hate and loathe our history with a passion. I think this is because our country became civilised due to conservative and traditional values and had absolutely nothing to do with the incompetent labour party. After all they were only founded in 1906 and, in reality, have done nothing worth mentioning in their 103 year history. Let's not forget it was the liberal party and NOT the labour party who started the welfare state. This is one truism labour cannot abide as they like to perpetuate the myth that the welfare state is the labour party's achievement. History also shows what utter failures every labour administration has been and how every labour govt manages to almost bankrupt the country.
- Margy, London
GOD SAVE THE PRINCE.
Having studied history at birkbeck my self ,i must say that my children and indeed grandchildren have had a rum old time of state education.
History has we know it has not been taught in school for some time.I have been in the position to teach younger members of my family about the importance of their english heritage.
Even the world history that is taught is so wishy washy as to be useless.
sanitised pc rubbish is all that is taught nowadays to undermine english identity ( i am jewish by the way and born in uk as were my father and grandfather , and both fought in 2 wars ).
Much is talked about britains involvement in the slave trade , but nothing is said about britains abolition of the trade and the use of it's armed forces to try to stop the trade world wide.
The youth of today are being brainwashed into "no-nothings" through no fault of their own .
BLAME BROWN AND THE INSIDIOUS LABOUR PARTY FOR THE DOWNFALL OF BRITISH SOCIETY.
MR(SEEEEETTTTHHHE) PASTRY
- Mr Pastry, london
What qualifies Prince Charles to comment is that he is a father and a subject - and a citizen. And he is right.
That our future monarch is prepared to speak out is a good thing, within reason. And this is within reason. It is hardly controversial, except in the milieu of the asinine education policy of that rather odd fellow Ed Balls.
He is so incompetent, full of wonky ideas, that he should not be allowed to administer an aspirin, let alone Minister aspirations in education!
- Lester May, London
What is going on here
This government has taken upon itself to conduct a vast social engineering project on the whole country which will knacker us for generations
No-one even hardened labour voters asked for this - please can we have an election now, look at the state the country is in !
- Paul ., Central London
Whatever Charles. You may be correct, but read our history. It doesn't do to interfere too much...remember your name sake (Chas.1st). Stop meddling, that os not your role nowadays.
- Janw, Harrow
This would be funny - the 'new subject areas' I mean, not PC's intervention, if it weren't so tragic. Not a big monarchist but I agree with Charles here.
My husband is a state school English teacher who is being rendered quasi-suicidal by these never-ending government education visions (delusions?) They don't want children to learn - just want them to be 'viable economic units' (see this government's 'Every Child Matters' manifesto). This is a brave new world indeed, where knowledge has no meaning, the past no relevance.
I think anyone at all interested in education should read the new book by Frank Furedi, Wasted: Why Education Isn't Educating which explains very clearly why subjects like History and Geography are more important, dare I say, than learning how to tweet.
- Lewis, Lodnon
this is why it is racist to be british in this counrty.it is a crime to be proud to be british.so the goverment take the history away so the children have nothing to be proud of.
- Rob Sheridan, romford
What does it have to do with Prince Charles? Whatever the rights and wrongs here (and for the record I think he is probably right on this issue) I thought he was supposed to keep out of politics. Once again, meddling and exceeding his remit and proving what an anachronism the Royals are.
- Lj, London
Prince Charles is 100% right on this one.As usual New Labour are intent on watering down or even abolishing certain areas of British history,tradition and culture. Well, it's NOT going to happen because Balls and his cronies will be KICKED OUT in a few months time thank God!
- Maria, Epsom
Ed Balls ? a staggering half-wit ....talk about sell-out the country and its basis
- Nick, London
Thank God for Prince Charles.
At least he is aware of the danger that this sorry excuse of a government is to our country.
Full respect to him, I say!
- Mrs, London UK
Ed Balls is hilarious, just because he's an idiot he believes that everyone else should be too.
- Bob, Cheam
He's got a point.
All three of my boys know about slavery as it it reinforced year after year through Black History Month yet major events in English history such as the Magna Carta, the Civil War, Culloden, Trafalgar, The Peninsular War, Waterloo, The Boer War, WW1 and WW2 don't seem to get anything like that intensity.
- Mark, South-East London
The Heir to the Throne oftwen appears out of touch with reality, but in this instance gets my support.
"The Six New Areas of Learning" is a masterclass in woolly newspeak in which jargon largely replaces substance.
Assuming that we are discussing primary education, surely the first order of business is to state unambiguously that every child must be provided with the basic skills in literacy, numeracy, articulateness and IT, that are the foundations of learning.
Children cannot possibly acquire the skills necessary for life unless these foundations are in place.
Prince Charles is absolutely right.How, without a clearly defined knowledge of history and geography, will tomorrow's citizens be able to make informed judgements about the issues facing our country and our planet?
They probably won't, but at least they'll know how to vote in "The X Factor"!
- John C, Leatherhead, UK
I totally agree with Charles. I have a love of History and to lose this and Geography from the curriculum can only be a massive backwards step.
- Sarah, Enfield
Dhan Raj - revising (ie rewriting) history is a very dangerous thing to do: remember Hitler (and now Turkey) hoping everyone would forget the Armenians? The point of both subjects is that you learn where you came from to get an idea where you're heading - which is precisely why they'd like it dropped.
I cannot think of any reason to justify eradicating these subjects other than to malignly influence the thinking of the 11 million children whose whole lives will be on a Government database before they are old enough to figure out what has happened to them. The British programme of Social Engineering is well on track. As usual, it has to be Prince Charles who raises our awareness on the subject by using his celebrity (and because he knows his 'interference' itself will raise a hoo-ha) because the British press and her Majesty's supposed 'Opposition' are too spineless/lazy to do the job themselves. It might amuse some people that this is an attack on 'Prince Charles' family' because Britain is now full of petty spite, inverted snobbery and short-term thinking - but actually it is an attack on what the Royal Family stands for, which is the sovereignty of the British People themselves.
- Roz, France
I cannot believe this governemnt is still in power. They have completely eroded our national identity, to know where you are today you have to know where you come from and Labour pretty soon you are going to know where you are going.
- Tony Gray, west suusex uk
Full support for Prince Charles on this. It is a disgrace that children's' education in this country is being downgraded to such an extent. I also agree with the comment that it's highly likely the two world wars will be wiped completely from lessons, which is just inexcusable. Ed Balls and his gang wouldn't have been born were it not for the sacrifices made by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. To reiterate a longstanding comment made by so many in this country that has yet to be taken on board, get education back to basics and then our children might actually learn something other than how to use a mobile phone, iPod or any other anti-social electronic device!
- Geraldine, London
The fact that our youth already struggle to identify Winston Churchill suggests that we already fail at the history and so i am surprised there is anything to axe from primary schools. He is right on this and as ever with the slippery Ed, this is another change motivated by trying to change our country in the interests of Labour not I think our country.
- Christian Ball, London, UK
Charlie Boy 1 - Ed the Duck 0
- Tom, St. Albans
History is everyone's Family Album .. that is why it is so important that children are taught basic dates, facts and understand how our country has progressed to the present day.Primary school children need to be grounded in British culture first before they move on to the rest of the world. How can they find any personal identity if they aren't allowed to feel that their own country is the most important one for themselves?
- Jay, London, UK.
You can be sure that the two World Wars will be one thing erased in the new curriculum. Brussels wouldn't want British children growing up with a knowledge that at one time this province fought against the others. It will be all nice and sanitized -- just as in Big Brother land.
- Phil Jones, London UK
You know, for once Prince Charles is completely right. I fully support him over this. English literature and history are jewels indeed.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
Charles is correct. We are lucky to have a monarchy that concerns itself with the issues in the country.
- Rikrok, London
With the greatest respect to The Prince, what qualifies him to be a spokesman for the academic status quo? -If my memory serves me well, didn't he struggle to attain the entry qualifications for university, despite all his privileged schooling and private tutelage? -And then proceed to just scrape a degree in some obscure subject?
Of course he has a vested interest in the teaching of English history. -It seeks to justify his existence!
Still, -he's a likeable chap and good luck to him.
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland
god save the prince of wales
- Christopher Metcalfe, singapore
Does this mean we can expect senior members of the Treasury to attend primary school maths, particularly the bit about "how to manage money and work sums out"?
By the way, Charles, people would like you a whole lot better if you DID speak out against the Government .....
- Marianne, SW France/London
As with architecture, Charles is completely right on this. It is highly encouraging that he is speaking up against the trashing of our culture and our history and our landscapes. Too much is being lost in the pursuit of Marxist ideals. Few people with influence are prepared to speak up and articulate what most of us really think. Let's hope that Charles doesn't just leave this as a one-off pronouncement, but that he ensures it stays at the top of the news story lists.
- Ken, Bexleyheath
Charles has a vested interest. History is his Family Album and Geography is all of Wales. Both subjects need a radical revision in subject matter and how they are taught.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon
