The Beagle Log, 21 November - The Old Dominion

Subject: The Beagle Log, 21 November - The Old Dominion Wed 21 Nov 2007 - 2:02

Good Morning,

As a follow up to yesterday's topic...

The Commonwealth of Virginia is named after Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen. Jamestown, named for James I, was the original capital of the Virginia Colony and remained so until the colonial capital was moved to nearby Middle Plantation in 1698, which was renamed Williamsburg in honor of William of Orange.

How did Virginia get the moniker "Old Dominion"

In May of this year, Queen Elizabeth visited Williamsburg and Jamestown. This was her 2nd visit, the first was in 1957. Her visits were major media events.
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Don

Hi Don!
I have looked it up and will just say it is to do with Charles the second and The Restoration. king

Gillian
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''What will survive of us is love.'' Philip Larkin

Gillian, yes the title was bestowed by Charles II. As a contrast to New England as discussed in yesterday’s Beagle Log, The Commonwealth of Virginia was a staunch supporter of the Royalist during the English civil war. Virginia was given the title, "Dominion", by King Charles II at the time of the Restoration because it had remained loyal to the crown during the English Civil War.

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On a side note, I doubt 90% of today’s residents of Virginia know this. I would be surprised if 50% know how the state’s name was derived. This is a sad commentary on today’s schools. History is not viewed as that important. It has been overtaken by other things deemed to be politically correct.

How history is treated in your school systems?

I’ve been considering two topics for the Beagle Log. The first is King Philips War – probably one of the bloodiest per capita for any British colony. The second is the French and Indian War which established the dominance of British rule in North America -- and set the stage for the American Revolution.

What are your thoughts?

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Don

Hi Don

I would be interested in both of them.
How about the American Civil War? could you do a piece on that too.

Jean

Hi Don and everyone,

That is all really interesting Don. Thank you. Hopefully we'll get the chance to gradually build a collection of similar topics of American history interest on your new USA and Canada Board.

History is a very important subject in the England and Wales Schools Curriculum. I think Scotland is slightly different, but I'm not absolutely sure about that.

We have a National Curriculum for all subjects - which means that all the schools in our countries follow the same teaching and learning plan. So, for example, all the English and Welsh Year 4 primary school children, which is the same year as my grandson Ben (age 8) will be covering the same subjects in history as he is in his little primary school in Darwen.

In the Years up to Year 3, Ben has learned all about the Romans, the Vikings, The Victorian era, and much more.

In Year 4, he is now studying the Tudor period, and already can tell you all about Henry VIII and the names of all his wives, which wife was whose mother etc.

The planned curriculum continues right through to age 16 (Year 11) when our children then take their GCSE examinations. Depending on how that goes for them, they then can if they choose - continue to Year 12 and 13 (also known as 6th Form) for GCE Advanced Level ("A" level as we call it)

So - in short - yes - I'm glad to say we have a very good History curriculum in our schools, and deemed a very important subject.

Bye for now Very Happy

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Carole, Smith Project/Smith Chat Admin
Nothing is too small to know, and nothing too big to attempt (William Van Horne)

Interesting, schools here are divided into three groups:

1. Elementary, grades 1 thru 6 (ages ~6-11)
2. Junior High, grades 7 & 8 (ages ~12-13)
(some school systems have junior high as grades 7, 8 and 9)
3. High School, grades 9 thru 12 (ages ~14-18).

All children are required to attend school until they are 18, so in theory they should all graduate from High School. In practice many, especially in the inner cities, drop out of high school in their mid-teens.

In grades 11 and 12 (junior and senior year) students planning on attending college will take the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or ACT (formally named American College Testing Program). Test scores along with high school grades and courses took are used by colleges to determine who will be accepted. As a practicing curmudgeon, today’s test are a pale shadow of those of yesteryear.

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Don

Jean,

We live just down the road from Bull Run, a mojor civil war site. I'll work a Beagle Log posting up for you on Bull Run in the next week or two.
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Don

Hiya Don.

It looks as though your "grades" system is the approximate equivalent to what we call "years". Our Primary schools include years from reception class (age 5-6) then Year 1 onwards up to Year 6 (age 10-11). Our secondary schools begin with Year 7 (age 11-12) and through to Year 11 (15-16). Some of the secondary schools also include Years 12 and 13 (Sixth Form) for up to age 18. Some secondary schools don't have there own sixth form - but there are separate Sixth Form colleges for those pupils who want to move on to that. Our children can leave school at 16 after Year 11, but most go on to either 6th Form or other training college.

The Years are also divided into Key stages - But I'll not go into that!! gets too complicated!! Laughing

Looking forward to future American history topics. I've just been writing on the "Happy Weekend" Topic about grandson Ben's school reading book of the moment - "Pioneer Girl" - shortened version of the book by Larua Ingolls Wilder. It was on TV as a long-running series years ago as "Little House on the Prairie". Loved it!!

See you later

Carole

Hi all.
I think the American year system better than ours.
I think it better to have a junior high where kids age 12 to 13 go. This then prepares them for high school. Rather than here where kids at 11 go straight in with kids up to age 17/18. Kids at 14 have more chance of resisting peer pressure than a child of 11. What do you think ??

Love to all
Daz
xxx
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My family are like stars in the night sky of my life.
Always there at the end of the day.
The light of their love forever constant as the Northern star.
Safely guiding me home.
Dreams are the realities of tomorrow.
Everyone is in tune with the spirits of their ancestors. Unfortunately some are tone deaf.
Copyright. Daz.2008.

Hi Daz,

Yes I agree about the Junior High years - for the reasons you mentioned. It is daunting isn't it for 11 year olds when they first go to the High School.

Cas wave

xxx