This is how they're teaching your kids about the Battle of Britain

[Guest]

don t know if this is wrong or not,would kids like to hear that if the battle of britain was lost then german would be our first language, and that the pilots who lost their lives were dead on their feet,and that if the germans kept up one more day then the story told was different,kids nowadays understand that horrible histories tells the other side of history not the stuff the kids dont listen to anymore in class,whether its crass to us,to them its learning

mobear

[Guest]

Hi all, to be fair I wouldn't call this crap. While you may not like the way it is produced, the lyrics do contain relevant imformation, and gets points across ina way kids are going to be interested in. While I haven't watched this episode in full, I have watched others with a similar approach, using humorous songs, which they then back up with key historic imformation. What you have to realise also is that the show has won numerous awards.

If we are going to critisise shows that may lampoon or parody such key events in our history, then you have also got to mention shows like allo allo, dads army, goodnight sweetheart, hogans heros blackadder ect - all classed as comedy classics, most poking fun at the war or airforce, army, french resistance ect. Even the classic M*A*S*H, which was critically acclaimed for showing the poignancy and dark sides, if taken out of context could be critisised for portraying 2 army surgeons who spent all the time drinking homebrewed martinis, and chasing the female nurses.

Cheers, Andrew

[AlanG]

I personally hate it. I find it cheap and tacky and not funny. But if it gets the message across to the kids of today then so be it. My son will be learning about the war(s) through my (and hopefully his) model making experiences.

It's a means to an end really. They need to give the kids the information in wahtever way they find easiest to absorb it

[geegad]

I'm going the black adder route one if not the funniest program to come from English tv and that is history based..I now that any war isn't a funny subject but as been said in this debate kids won't watch the a doc on the history channel if it gets them interested then they will learn the true facts about the slaughter that went on in both wars... And having a grandfather that was a Sapper on d-day he has told me story's and he laughed some of them were funny in a strange way god rest hid sole

And that's my 2 sence

Geegad

[Guest]

Utter tripe, insulting to the memory of those who served and flew. The BBC should be utterly ashamed for airring such rubbish

[Guest]

I don't know what sort of age range this is targeting, but as a 16 year old, I can say with confidence that if a this were to be shown in class, not a damn one of us would take it seriously.

[Guest]

My son whom i see once or twice a year tells me they don't do war history, when trying to explain what his great grand dad did in the war working underground below box tunnel were they used to store ammo and stuff he didn't want to know,We sat down to watch schindelers list he thought it was funny just like a video game. My Dad {ASNF} gave him a box full of the little commando books he didn't wonna know. I'm quite disturbed by all this.

To cap it all of onBFBS radio news said there have been a lot of confusion about the Titanic on twitter apparently they thought it was a good film, and didn't believe it was real.

Used to be proud to be british, Just don't know any more.

Martin

[Guest]

When I was a kid WWII seemed like ancient history to me, even though I was born only 18 years after it ended. My Dad served for 4 years of it and my Mum lived through the blitz, the stories they told me brought it to life for me, who's going to do it for the kids of today? Even an imperfect knowledge of history is surely better than none

Saying people should be shot or ashamed for broadcasting this kind of stuff is surely displaying a lack of perspective, where do we draw the line? The 100 Years War, The Wars of the Roses, The Peninsula War, The Boer War?

It's easy to snipe at younger generations, they will be us in years to come and they will be the same grumpy old men and women that we are, just like our parents and grandparents and.............

Right, I better put me tin hat on:surrender:

[Guest]

I did not realise that this was meant for 5year olds so i will retract some of what i have said in my earlier statement . but I'm still of the opinion that a great many kids are still of thick and have mo interest in anything except for what they can get in life, they have no pride in themselves never mind their country and we as a nation have let this happen. during the two great wars young men and women did not feel the need to ask why should i put on a uniform and serve,they did it out of national pride. because there was still a sense of honor left in the youth of the UK . if this program can encourage the children to ask find out the facts for themselves then it will have done what it has meant to do.

Scott

[mossiepilot]

Been reading this thread and thought I'd throw my hat in the ring.

Comedy has been used to teach history for lots of years. Horrible Histories is just the newest version of this. Black Adder has already been mentioned, Armstrong and Miller did an ongoing sketch about WW2 RAF fighter pilots using "modern speak" instead of their own lingo and even Monty Python (gods of comedy) did a sketch about WW2 fighter pilots who couldn't understand each other.

Just because "we won" dosen't make us better, during WW2 the Americans had concentration camps for it's Japanese citizens and during WW1 the English executed mentally damaged (shell shocked) soldiers.

Don't get me wrong I'm proud to be British, but our history can be as black as other nations.

My opinion is that if comedy can introduce history to the next generation then long may it flourish.

Hope I haven't offended anyone.

Tony.

[Guest]

I do not think you have offended anyone Tony. Neither should Andy wear a tin hat. We have the right to say what we think.

Airman Sailors & Soldiers died in WW11 to preserve that right of freedom to express ourselves in a civilized form with out fear or favour. Each of us is allowed that privilege in equal amounts and in unlimited quantity.

It is a privileged right to be used with dignity & responsibility.

I am one of those grumpy 70 years olds. Even says that on a cushion provided recently by my family. So I know it to be true.

I have 4 grandsons from 5 to 11 years. I see many of their friends & also being a small community many of the young. I have been to their schools & can only say that I am so impressed with this generation. They match up in all ways to those I have known throughout my life. The things they undertake in the community and without monetary reward. I have found them kind & caring in a most difficult life which we have given them. The strangest thing I have found, since attaining this age, is the respect I have been given by this young bunch and I get embarrassed by it.

Laurie

[mossiepilot]

Good words Laurie.

Tony.

[Guest]

Very true Laurie, my own experience with kids and teenagers shows me that they are exactly the same as we were

We should all remember not to believe everything the media tells us, my Grandad told me to believe nothing I hear and only half of what I see. Some people call me cynical, I just like to make up my own mind about things

[HAWKERHUNTER]

If I ever want to restore my faith in the youth of today I just look to tha armed services where we still see the finest young people this country has got to offer. And they make me very proud.