TEACHING HISTORY SIR, —Dr. Plumb, as an examiner, complains that schoolmasters
too often teach an out-of-date view of the eighteenth century. May I, as a schoolmaster, suggest that part of the blame lies with his fellow- examiners? A glance through old GCE papers will show that questions are still set which scarcely make sense except on the assumption that the old view remains valid. Let me give three examples from recent papers of the Oxford and Cambridge Board :
What caused the failure of George III's attempt at personal government? ('A' level, 1953.)
How far was the growth of Cabinet govern- ment interrupted by George Ill's attempt at personal rule? ('A' level, 1957.) What principles and policies divided the Tories and Whigs during the first twenty years
of George III's reign? ('O' level, December, 1952.) Most of the questions set by the Board are, it is true, unexceptionable; but it is rather discouraging for those of us who try to base our teaching on recent research to find that examination papers are still sometimes set in which a knowledge of this research is apparently penalised.—Yours faithfully,
A mple forth College, York
J. H. WHYTE
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