tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post6072881892946668138..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: Shaping our pastJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-46230188336908649122019-02-08T13:02:28.500+00:002019-02-08T13:02:28.500+00:00"...you assume that just because something is...<i>"...you assume that just because something is taught it needs to be regarded as something important or something that cannot be challenged"</i> Do I? Where did I say that? You're making an assumption about what I think here which is a long way wide of the mark.<br /><br />And actually, I agree, in general, with <i>"We need to educate our youngsters to appreciate that everything should, can and must be challenged. Just because something was found to be true today does not mean that by tomorrow it cannot be found wanting."</i>, although not with <i>"This is a key element in schools outside the state system"</i> which, unless you have some evidence to support it, looks like an assertion of your own prejudice against state schools.<br /><br />When you refer to <i>"fundamental things we have always assumed true"</i> you give examples which suit your own prejudices and priors; I would give alternative examples which suit my prejudices and priors. When it comes to 'history' and especially 'our' history, that was precisely the point that I was making - these things are not (and can never be) entirely objective. Which leaves the question - who decides and on what basis? Anybody who thinks there's a simple answer to that one probably hasn't given it enough consideration.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-42828702957681731602019-02-08T11:26:34.998+00:002019-02-08T11:26:34.998+00:00I think you make a rather common mistake here, you...I think you make a rather common mistake here, you assume that just because something is taught it needs to be regarded as something important or something that cannot be challenged. This is a mistake many teachers also make.<br /><br />We need to educate our youngsters to appreciate that everything should, can and must be challenged. Just because something was found to be true today does not mean that by tomorrow it cannot be found wanting. This is a key element in schools outside the state system but sadly lacking within. <br /><br />I think part of the problem we have here in Wales is 'fessing up' to the realisation that once we start to challenge fundamental things we have always assumed true, let's take a couple of historical examples, English aggression in the Middle Ages or the importance of the Welsh language, we might well find that the entire house comes crashing down.<br /><br />Are we really ready to start re-building? <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com