History on Film

At last! Dixons AS History class has been musing for some time now on why the Votes for Women campaign, with its colourful characters and provocative acts, has never been made into a film or TV series. But someone has heard our call! Writer and political advisor Barbara Gorna is apparently working on a bio-pic of the life of Emily Wilding Davison, one of the most fascinating characters in the suffragette story. Listen to her here talking about Davison’s life; the interview itself gives our AS class plenty to think about in terms of why some women were so convinced of the importance of a political voice. In the meantime, all students can have their say: which neglected periods of History do you think deserve the big-screen treatment and why?

Why are girls outperforming boys in school?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/884405.stm

It is widely acknowldegd that girls are now outperforming boys in their educational achievement. What factors have influenced this change and how effective have they been?

The Changing Role of Women

This month marks the 90th anniversary of the first election in which women over 30 could vote. Year 12 historians have been learning about the changing role of women in the 20th century, and the campaigns for the vote. This Woman’s Hour podcast looks at how women responded to the opportunity to vote. Think about the changes which were brought about by this legislation. Did it bring about the revolution some people hoped, and feared it would? As you have been studying the course, have you noticed how much, or how little has changed since the early 20th century? Post your comments.

Can the Shannon Matthews case be explained sociologically?

There has been a lot of press covereage about the Shannon Matthews case. Understandably, the world is shocked that a mother could actually construct her own daughter's kidnap. Questions regarding child protection have been raised and everyone from the police, social services, and Karen Matthews has been blamed for this act of cruelty.

From what we have learned in Sociology so far, can we explain this situation? How would different sociological theories explain this shocking occurence? Can it be explained in more than one way?

Or do we just blame Karen Matthews and forget the whole sorry business?

Coastal Management in Sandsend

Describe the coastal management strategies that are found

in Sandsend and discuss how successful these have been.

How have marketisation and selection policies produced social class differences in educational achievment?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/parents-divided-by-lottery-in-brightons-golden-halo-438350.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/01/schooladmissions.topstories3

Year 12 have been examining how educational achievement can be influenced by social class.

Use the articles from The Indepenent and The Guardian (and your class notes) to evaluate the extent to which selection policies can affect the educational attainments of students from different social classes.

American West: who were the most successful travellers?

Year 11 are currently studying The American West. It's a story of how various groups moved west in the 19th century; some by choice, some by necessity. Some settled and stayed; others' presence on the western lands was short-lived. Who were the most successful travellers? The optimistic gold miners? Persecuted Mormons? Isolated mountain men or the resilient Homesteaders? Post your thoughts on the groups studied so far. Even better: who would have considered themselves a success, and would this change over time?