An exam suitable for 'military junkies'

Leaving Cert history: The 80-year-old Leaving Cert history syllabus breathed its last yesterday in a paper that was described as suitable for "military junkies".

"This was a disappointing last paper for the old syllabus," said Peter Gallagher of the History Teachers Association of Ireland.

"We anticipated a more straightforward exam this year but instead we got a heavy measure of military subject matter and too many minority questions that most students would not have attempted. Social and cultural history was played down in the exam. This is not fully representative of the old syllabus."

There was a wide selection of essay choices in the Irish history section including Parnell, Ireland during the second World War and the first inter-party government.

"Many students were disappointed that a direct question on Fianna Fáil and de Valera did not appear on the paper," said Gerry Moore, a spokesperson for skoool.ie and a teacher at Glenties Comprehensive School in Donegal.

"In European history, the eastern question and international relations 1890-1914 would prove difficult. It was disappointing, too, that neither France nor Bismarck appeared."

The question on German military and naval strategy during the first World War was described as "very specific" and only appealing to a minority of students with an interest in military history.

"A more general question on the war would have been much more appropriate," said Gerry Moore. "However the questions on Stalin, Nazi Germany and the Cold War were popular choices in Section D."

Some ordinary level students expressed disappointment that Home Rule, an important part of the syllabus, did not appear as an essay question.

"The essay question on the eastern question would be very difficult for the majority of students but essays on the first World War and Mussolini went down well," said Gerry Moore.

Once again teachers and students at ordinary level welcomed the option to write an essay on any historical topic that they have studied.

History has been in decline in schools since the 1980s, when a majority of students took the subject at Leaving Cert level. This year, only one in five Leaving Cert students opted for history.

Yesterday's exam was three hours and 20 minutes long to allow for the large amount of writing required to complete five essay topics.

Next year's exam will be shorter and more manageable and will include a question on historical documents. Some marks will be awarded for a research topic completed earlier in the school year.

It is hoped that the new syllabus, which shifts the emphasis from male figureheads and military politics, will attract more students to the subject.

The new course includes more women, more social and cultural history and a greater exploration of the subjectivity of historical records.

"Today's higher paper was quite a demanding one for the last time in the old format," said Gerry Moore. "As a history teacher I am glad that this is the last time that students have to go through such pressure in this writing marathon."