Phoney war over maps and landmarks;Curriculum 2000

14th May 1999, 1:00am

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Phoney war over maps and landmarks;Curriculum 2000

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/phoney-war-over-maps-and-landmarkscurriculum-2000
ALTHOUGH the new proposed national curriculum went out this week it is already out of date.

An update is being rushed off the presses after the Secretary of State demanded a re-write of the geography curriculum after a row over the future of maps.

In the run-up to the launch of the proposals a Sunday paper revealed the study of maps was being removed from the curriculum. It alleged that basic requirements such as knowing how to pick out England, Scotland or Wales from a map of the United Kingdom or measure distances between cities were to be scrapped to make room for “politically correct” environmental awareness and sustainable development.

Within 24 hours David Blunkett told his advisers to reinstate all maps and study of landmarks.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority was bemused by the controversy. It had recommended removing the maps which were normally provided with the curriculum, but only so that teachers could choose their own maps.

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