People

o. coogan
would all the people in the world fit on the isle of man

Lindsey
I visited the Isle in May of 2007. I live in Kentucky in the USA, and I learned so much about the history of Mann in the short 2 weeks I stayed there. I absolutely think that Manx students should learn their history. I was completely intrigued and went to several museums and castle remains. It was all so fulfilling and magical to be on the ground Vikings and Celts roamed on, and it is important to know that. So i vote for learning Manx history. Absolutely.

Hollie
I was born and raised on the Island and I only wish that I was taught more history about the beautiful Isle of Man. I find myself now, trying to find out as much information as possible about the history of Mann. Especially as I am living away from the Island for a few years now. It's a shame that we didn't have the choice to learn Manx history at Primary School. But I also understand that obviously it is not part of the National Curriculum. Maybe Manx History could be introduced as a seperate lesson, in addition to the existing curriculum. I believe that we should have the choice and opportunity to learn our history. I also think that the Manx School in St Johns is fantastic. Good to know that the culture is being kept alive.

Sarah
The Isle of Man is such a wonderful place we should be learning more about Manx history in schools as it's part of so many people's history. I would rather read about Manxmen and their lives than people who cured something. Don't get me wrong WW2 is very important but Manx history is even more as it people's lives it should be bigger thn it is

Jim Finn
The IOM is truly a magical island not least because of the warm heartedness and friendliness of its people. I spent many happy camps there as a young teenager and still enjoy visiting the Island to this day.The museum is one of the finest I've been to.

Alec G.Claugue Ryals
Jonny Crellen: do you have advice on teaching the Manx language. Thank You ,no--no threey-de-lur ? wrongspelling (:>)ovi aor evia !

James
tis a good website

Jerome
I thought that the isle of man was a fascinating, glorious, historic place i have ever visited. The people there were delightful and very friendly and me and my party thouroughly enjoyed our ehxbidition.

Christine Wright
As someone who has moved over recently i would love the children to be taught more Manx history as they would in turn teach me. To learn more about how the Island's past fits into British history is fascinating and it could only increase student's interest in history generally.

Peter
I'm currently studying AS Level History at St. Ninian's High School and although I do find Napoleon and World War II fascinating, I remember enjoying History much more in past years when studying Tourism in the Isle of Man for GCSE and even as far back as my early secondary and primary years, learning about the Vikings etc. It's unlikely I'll learn topics related to the Isle of Man again, but it's definately something I wish was a larger part of A-level study in the Isle of Man.

Andy Fox
Not sure when or if you have been in a Manx Secondary school recently and seen the Local History work done. Also certain schools will do more than others. Suffice to say my daughters have attended a Manx Secondary school and both took History through to Advanced level. They studied the following that I can recall :- Stone Age Isle of Man Illiam Dhone Manx Industrial History Slavery Internment on the IOM Victorian Tourism (GCSE) Medicine (Partic. Cholera on IOM GCSE) A Level history links to the specified course. In this day and age we have to try and ensure the curriculum has a balance. Some schools are trying very hard to ensure that is the case. It is a shame if this is overlooked.

Casey
If you can engage a young mind with history & culture which they can reach out and touch then they are more likely to find it relevant; it is quite difficult for a 8 year old to fully grasp something which happened 100s of mile away yet they can go out with their school class, or their parents, and touch the Manx crosses or visit the Keeils. If they engage at this young age this can only be good for their general education and particularly their interest in the history and future of the Isle of Man

Tina Kutter
I am English - born in London and now living in Cornwall. I think some important elements of Manx history should be taught in all schools in the British Isles because the vast majority of us know little, if anything at all, about this island that is such a close neighbour. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I would small a rat.

George
It would not be possible for the Isle of Man to focus more on Manx history. I understand it's importance (given that I'm as Manx as the hills), but given that the IOM takes part in GCSE's (UK Based Examination board), it would be unreasonable to have a history exam with Manx content. There is only so much money the Dept. of Ed. have available and I beleive that the Government provides ample means of learning about Manx history, with the various Manx Heritage locations throughout the island. It is up to the family to provide the children with a sense of 'what it means to be manx', not the government. It is important for children to understand how big the world is, and how important it is to understand other cultures and be aware of world history. This is what is going to help them throughout their lives, not just an understanding of local history.

Leonard Gantt
I find all history important on this planet. This just might contribute to or understanding as we quest for living on the moon, and why man finds it so important to go to mars.

kirree
History taught at primary school should be local history - it's starts with the history of me, my parents, my grandparents, the place we live in. When I was at High school on the island I too resented learning about only English history which didn't seem particularly relevant to us in the island, but then I realised the o level exam syllabus was drawn up by the english and if I was going to pass the exam that's what I would have to learn, and in turn resented the stand-in teacher who tried to refer it all back to the IOM, which we would not be tested on. However, although the IOM may not be 'a major player in world events' in the 20th century, this hasn't always been the case. Of course, if 'history' is always going to be from the English exam boards' perspective then our shared history with Scandinavia, Scotland and Ireland will not feature. Neither will our connection to 1066, the battle of Trafalgar, World War II etc, and other events of interest to the English.

Alan Macnair
I think it is important to teach children about their LOCAL history as well as more widely taught subjects. Manx history may not have large impacts on the 'world' but who can say it therefore is not important?

Emma
As I am training as a teacher I feel strongly that the Manx heritage should be portrayed more clearly within the Manx curriculum. Personally as I have been brought up in the Isle of Man feel that the young do not recieve the knowledge about the island they live on as readily as other historical events. The teaching of the Manx language within schools should also be intergrated into the Manx curriculum. For an island that is so proud of their own heritage why do they not bask in it and make the young proud of where they live?

Joanna
When I was at primary school we learnt about such diverse things as the Aztecs and Egyptians. This has not been of value in terms of the subjects I am currently doing for GCSE and above. It would be more appropriate to learn about Manx history, which I have been forced to ask my parents about, than the history of Central and South America. Although it may not be of help with further studies in history it would help young people like myself feel better connected with the Island and would help to stave off some of the influence the English have had here over the past century.

Lizzie
I am new to the Isle of Man, and have moved here with my daughter who is of primary school age. I would hope that Manx History forms a part of the curriculum, as I am keen for her to gain respect for and a knowledge of the wonderful country I have had to honour to move to. I have found the Manx people to be hugely gracious and welcoming and as a gesture of thanks the least I can do is learn about the heritage. We have hugely enjoyed, since 'coming over' the splendid House of Manannan, Peel Caste and Castle Rushen. Having myself lived in Holland as a child, and although educated within the UK curriculum there, education in terms of history found a balance between learning about UK history and Dutch history. A similar balance would seem an obvious way forward, and furthermore, hugely beneficial to our children's education and future knowledge.

Jamie
Whilst i appriaciate the concern for people to learn their heritage, i feel that if pupils are going to learn History at GCSE level or A Level, how would a broader understanding of Manx Local History, because thats all it is in the grand scale of things, improve my understanding of broader British history. Currently studying for a degree, i can't see how if i was taught Manx History at school rather than British history it would benefit me. I would be at a total loss. It is the job of the Education authorities to provide us with an education which will benfit us the most, not one which will improve Manx identity. If this was the case, we would be taught Manx rather than English in schools. School is meant to educate us, to provide us with a broader understanding, not to indoctrinate us.People are so worried about losing their heritage because it isn't taught in schools, but cultural identity isn't taught in schools, it is taught at the home, teach manx history there.

Wendy
The Island has been swamped by the English and many of the teachers are from England. Unless Manx history, culture and heritage are taught in schools we'd lose our distinct identity.

David
A more in-depth teaching of Manx history should be a crucial part of high school history. As a Manxman I was taught all about the battle of 1066, Henry VIII etc of which they have little or nothing to do with me. In addition we are taught nothing about crucial Manx events such as the Battle of Ronaldsway, Scottish rule, Illiam Dhone and not a thing on the former Nordic Kings of Mann. The Dept of Education really embarress themselves in this respect.

Nicole
I am from the US but my grandfather on my father's side come from the Isle of Man. I have always known this but did not know that the heritage was of mixed Viking/Celtic. My grandfather on mom's side is norweigan. I may be more viking than I thought. I have also loved Celtic traditions so this is important to me. Anytime I can learn I make myself a better person and enjoy history. This needs to be preserved just like many heritages such as American Indian in the US.

Becca
I was taught Manx history in primary school, and found it absolutely fascinating. It is important to learn about your heritage, and I totally lost interest in history when I started high school, when it was all about 'Black Death' and blah de blah... Manx heritage was not even mentioned. I am not English, I am Manx. Of course I care about World Wars and Henry VIII, but I cared much more about Illiam Dhone, how Peel castle came about, because that was part of MY heritage. The Isle of Man is a unique place, and all the residents young and old need to know how it came about.