Simon Schama: cuts will make history preserve of the rich
History will become the preserve of the rich if the coalition continues to cut arts and humanities in favour of sciences, Simon Schama the historian has warned.
The Government's new history tsar who was called in by Education Secretary Michael Gove to advise the Government on the history curriculum in schools, also berated academic snobbery among some fellow historians who have worked solely in higher education.
Broadcaster Schama, 66, who is Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University, also made no secret of his fears for what lies ahead for the study of the arts and humanities in British universities.
He said he had deep misgivings about the proposed new financial regimen for higher education.
Schama said he was uneasy that "sciences and subjects, which seem to be on a utilitarian measure useful, have retained their state funding, while the arts and humanities are being stripped of theirs."
He fears that such a move will have the "unfortunate" effect of channelling students into subjects such as accountancy rather than philosophy or the history of art....
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The Government's new history tsar who was called in by Education Secretary Michael Gove to advise the Government on the history curriculum in schools, also berated academic snobbery among some fellow historians who have worked solely in higher education.
Broadcaster Schama, 66, who is Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University, also made no secret of his fears for what lies ahead for the study of the arts and humanities in British universities.
He said he had deep misgivings about the proposed new financial regimen for higher education.
Schama said he was uneasy that "sciences and subjects, which seem to be on a utilitarian measure useful, have retained their state funding, while the arts and humanities are being stripped of theirs."
He fears that such a move will have the "unfortunate" effect of channelling students into subjects such as accountancy rather than philosophy or the history of art....