So many of the subjects we were taught at school were boring and lacked imagination. Occasionally one came across an inspirational teacher who made the subject come to life and suddenly, without realising it - you flew. We had one such teacher – a history teacher, whose techniques were revolutionary for the time. Remember 50 years ago we did not have “Whiteboards” or computers, TVs were expensive and still finding its feet. Holidays abroad were a novelty – many of the popular resorts of today were no more than a fishing village with a harbour, and if you were lucky a medieval ruin in the background.
War games have been played for many millennia, in many in countries all over the world in different forms. In China flat stones marked on side, in Africa depressions in the soils and the moving of shells; In Persia to Egypt pieces moved on a board; Then drafts and chess relatively new examples. The came models of armies. Wood and paper figures were replaced in Germany by two dimensional tin representations of actual armies painted in regimental colours.
Famous and intellectual giants often played “war games”. H.G.Wells; Edward Woodward were amongst some of the unexpected exponents of the War Game.
In an age before computer games a table top re-enactment could be exciting stressful, emotional, and full of drama. Our history teacher encouraged and often arranged inter-school tournaments. The battle grounds varied from biblical battles; to the medieval period to the Second World War. None of us realised, and at the time and it was not important, the battles re-enacted often were for a period in history that would be covered the following year or term and even “O” levels.
The Uniforms, pre-WW1 reflected the need to be seen by generals some distant away, so were colourful unlike today’s camouflage styles.
Interesting isn't it? History can be made so interesting if you do things like that. I used to teach history through drama. Not performance drama but we used to dress up and "live it" e.g. children became victorian factory workers etc.
ReplyDeleteI knew a photographer who used to teach part time, he also did just that. He held competitions with a prize for the most authentic “period dress” then held exhibitions in the school on “open evenings.” His order book soon filled, and his master classes were always full. One or two took it up professionally and most belonged to camera clubs. In an age before digital Cameras.
ReplyDeleteWe once made a model village and became the people who lived in it. The village grew over time leading to a newspaper, letters to the paper, children becoming mill owners, the work force, shop keepers etc. It kept us going in history, creative writing, maths, drama and art and craft for a year!
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