54% of children in the North West don't know what Magna Carta is???
ON the 800th commemoration of the
sealing of Magna Carta a nationwide poll of children reveals that 54% of young
people in the North West don't know what Magna Carta is against a national
average of 56%. 17% were confusing it with the Domesday Book and a further 5%
thought it was a giant map of the world
Of the 46% who know what Magna Carta is, 45% knew it was sealed by King John
against a national average of 42%. This indicates that whilst there is a general
lack of awareness of Magna Carta, the depth of knowledge amongst children that
do know is higher than the national average. When asked which freedom or right fought for
over the past 800 years was most important, top priority was the right for every
child to an education pulling in 43% of the votes. hat makes the children in the North West so
unique is that they voted for the right for women and girls to be treated
equally with men and boys as their 2nd choice; higher than any other region in
the UK. When asked what new right or freedom they
would like introduced, the North West voted overwhelming for the right to go to
bed at any time of night with 42% saying this was their top choice followed by
30% who wanted the right to play video games long into the night.
Christopher Lloyd, who is a world historian, educationalist and children's author and
author of 'The Magna Carta Chronicle' says of the findings:-
"It's vital that young people are given the opportunity to engage and learn
about this heart-wrenching story and it's obvious from this survey that there's
an awful lot of work still to do in our schools to convey this narrative in an
engaging and memorable way. The 800th anniversary commemoration of Magna Carta
is quite possibly the best chance we will have to reignite interest in the story
of freedom, rights and laws for a generation, if not longer. Magna Carta
is one of the pivotal turning points in our history and has shaped the lives we
live and lead today. It succeeded in reducing the absolute power of the King and
set the precedent for an 800 years long revolution by ordinary folk across the
world, fighting for their freedoms and rights. It features a rollercoaster
journey of real life heroes and heroines, many of whom laid down their lives for
their beliefs including Wat Tyler -roofer and Kentish Rebel, Emily Davison
Suffragette and Martin Luther King Civil Rights campaigner. It's the story of
how our nation's psyche evolved with its core values of freedom of expression,
tolerance of others, lack of discrimination and equal opportunities. Many of
these are currently under extreme threat so it's more important today, than ever
that children are told the epic story of how today's freedoms were fought and
won."
The poll, conducted by independent research company OnePoll in May 2015,
provides a unique snapshot into the minds of young people of over 1,000
children, between the ages of 8 to 14 years, across the UK. It shows
clearly their knowledge
of Magna Carta, which of the freedoms and rights fought and won over the past
800 years are most important to them and, when given a choice, what new freedom
they would like introduced.
Christopher Lloyd has written numerous books on world history including a series
of 6 timeline titles covering:- Big History, Nature, Sport, Science and
Shakespeare and the latest 1 The Magna Carta Chronicle in partnership with The
Magna Carta Trust. Christopher lectures all over the world in museums, schools
and festivals connecting the curriculum together to create a more holistic view
of knowledge.
The Magna Carta Chronicle is the official young person's guide to the 800th
anniversary of Magna Carta. Its creator, world history author and educationalist
Christopher Lloyd, said the book had been specially designed and illustrated by
timeline artist Andy Forshaw to make the 800 year story accessible and exciting
for younger people, as well as for teachers, parents and people of all ages.
It features 45 tabloid style newspaper stories so that the events of 800 years
read as if they happened yesterday, making them easy and fun for anyone of any
age to grasp, as well as a two meter long fold-out timeline charting nearly 100
moments from the laws of Hammurabi to the terrible experience of Malala
Yousafzai after her attempted assassination by terrorists simply for daring to
go to school.
The Magna Carta Chronicle is priced at £8.99 and is available now at all good
bookshops.
