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Top children's author Terry Deary launches an outspoken attack in the current issue of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ History Magazine, on those who believe that the aim of history teaching should be to "pump pupils full of facts".

In the October issue of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ History Magazine, on sale today, Deary - creator of the bestselling Horrible History books - argues that while "history education should be valued for its understanding of human beings and human society… schooling simply values the mindless accumulation of facts, because facts are 'testable'".

Deary goes on to say that we need to "worry" about "the seemingly respectable politicians who will smile and tell you they’ll manipulate the schools system and pump your children full of historical facts if you elect them", and says that he "despairs of school history, because it is controlled from the top down, by the politicians who dictate the curriculum."

Deary's comments come just two weeks after research by the Historical Association found that almost half (48 per cent) of pupils aged 11 to 12 spend less than an hour a week learning history, and only 30 per cent of them will continue to study the subject up to the age of 16.

Dave Musgrove, Editor of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ History Magazine commented: "As the man behind the bestselling Horrible Histories, Terry Deary probably has more influence on our children's understanding of the past than most. It's interesting to hear his outspoken views on how the subject should be taught. We'd also love to hear what readers think and we are welcoming debate on our website's forum: ."

Terry Deary's opinion piece - Horrible history teaching - will be published in the October issue of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ History Magazine, on sale 29 September 2009, price £3.60.

NOTES TO EDITORS
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ History Magazine
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ History Magazine is the biggest selling and most authoritative history magazine in the UK. It has a monthly circulation of 63,888 (ABC Jan-Jun 2009) and is published by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Magazines Bristol, a trading name of Bristol Magazines Ltd., which is a subsidiary of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide Ltd., the main commercial consumer arm of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.

The Historical Association survey
The Historical Association sent an online survey to all schools and colleges in England teaching students in the 11-18 age range in March 2009. Just over 700 history teachers from a range of different schools (including middle schools and sixth form colleges) responded to the survey.

Carolyn Wray

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