Are Women Treated Equally in Britain today?

Would Sylvia Pankhurst have been disappointed by the position of women in Britain today? She hoped that women gaining the vote would be the first step towards big improvements in the position and status of women. Has the vote brought equality? Are women treated equally in Britain today?

In 1928 all women over 21 were given the vote. This gave them the same rights as men. Today over 50% of voters are women. What percentage of women are MPs today?



In 1979, Britain elected its first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. She claimed that, 'The battle for women's rights has largely been won'. Do you agree?

After both the First and Second World Wars, most women who had worked in men's jobs went back to their old jobs. By the 1960s women were becoming increasingly frustrated that top jobs were not open to them. The 'women's liberation movement' campaigned for change and helped persuade the government to pass laws making it illegal to pay women less than men for the same job (1970) and outlawing discrimination in jobs, housing and other areas (1975). Are there many women in top jobs today? Do women get paid the same?

http://www.ukpolitical.info/FemaleMPs.htm

The Rise of Hitler

Below is a trailer for a film about why Hitler came to power in Germany.

Why do you think people want to know more about why Hitler came to power?

Do you think it is an important subject to study at school?...Why?

World War 1: Do you know any family history?

Where were your relatives during the First World War? Did any of your relatives fight in the trenches, or did they have any other involvement in this country or in other countries? Do some research, talk to grandparents and other elderly relatives about their relatives and who knows what you will find out! Please share your family history stories in your comments.

Year 9 are currently studying WWI, but students in other years and staff are welcome to contribute.

Disclaimer: do be aware that this site is accessible to the public. You may wish to discuss your post with family members first.

Films as Evidence

Below is a trailer for a film that was made recently about a young German boy who makes an unlikely friend during World War Two.

Watch this trailer and comment on the two thinking points below;

What new information do you think we could learn about the Holocaust from this film? Think, whose point of view is the story told from?

Why do you think there has been so many films about the Holocaust in recent years?

Hitler and Nazi Germany

How important is it that students study Hitler and Nazi Germany? Year 9 are currently investigating Hitler’s rise to power and the Nazi party’s ability to keep control of the German people. Schools all over the country study this crucial part of the 20th century, and numerous films and books cover the topic. Why is this such an important part of our learning in History? Are there any other areas of history that you think are essential learning for students?

Holocaust Memorial Day

The 27th January 2008 is Holocaust Memorial Day. The video above was produced to remind us of the 6 million Jews and other groups that were systematically murdered under Nazi Germany between 1937 and 1945. How does this event impact the world we live in today? Will you be doing anything to remember this event on the 27th? Why does the Holocaust have a memorial day while genocide in countries such as Rwanda and Armenia do not? What are your opinions?

1900-1920: the era of...?

Year 9 History students are well into their review of the 20th century. The first two decades are seemingly dominated by conflict, and no-one can ignore the horrors of The Great War when defining these decades. The clip of the Treaty of Versailles reminds us that the decisions made in 1919 did not make a lasting peace. But year 9 have been careful to note that war can bring unexpected changes, some of which are positive. How would you define these two decades? If 1900-1920 was a film, what would be the title? Post your ideas here. Then get ready in Term 3 to investigate how the next twenty years were turbulent times for Europe…..

The Battle of the Somme

Year 9 History students have been investigating several different interpretations of the First World War, from letters and diaries written at the time, to programmes such as ‘Blackadder Goes Forth’ made in the 1980s. “The Battle of the Somme” film, made and shown in 1916, gives a very definite interpretation of the war. It was hugely popular in Britain, breaking box-office records when it opened in most of Britain’s 4,500 cinemas. View the clip and think about how people would feel about the war, viewing this film in 1916. Why do you think it gives this particular interpretation? Post your comments, and remember that looking at the context of a piece of evidence always gives an excellent answer in History!

The Atomic Bomb

Can the dropping of the Atomic bomb on Japan in 1945 be justified? Was America saving lives by bringing the war to a decisive end? Or were the bombs simply a scientific experiment into the impact of this new and terrible weapon?
Year 9 History students will shortly be making their own decision. This will form part of their last History assessment, and help to determine their End of Key Stage Level.
View the clip and post your thoughts: was America right to drop the bomb?

Holocaust Survivors

Last term Year 9 visited Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre. You can learn more about the Holocaust using You Tube.

There are many stories from survivors of the Holocaust on You Tube. One example is given above.