This puts me in mind of this snippet from 'Patience', a satire on late 19C aestheticism:
Be eloquent in praise of the very dull old days
which have long since passed away,
And convince 'em, if you can, that the reign of good Queen Anne
was Culture's palmiest day.
Of course you will pooh-pooh whatever's fresh and new,
and declare it's crude and mean,
For Art stopped short in the cultivated court of the Empress Josephine.
The question of this post was the concern that the young have no knowledge of our recent history e.g. World War 2.I commented that my son had covered quite a bit about the rise of Hitler and World war 2 in his GCSE hhistory course in the early 2000's.The issue was not really about the history education we 50-60 year olds received which ran from the Greeks & Romans through to Queen Victoria.
History of Second World War is taught in schools nowadays:-
National curriculum in England: history programmes of study - GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-englan… 11 Sep 2013 ... Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh ... The national curriculum for history aims to ensure that all pupils: .... the Second World War and the wartime leadership of Winston Churchill
I also was in school in the 50s and 60s and did not learn about WW2 - it wasn't history in those days. I did, however, learn quite a lot about the ancient Greeks! I did know the answer to the question about the Battle of Britain.
We didn't learn about the war in school in the 50s either. I've learned it throughout my lifetime. When we were watching the programme last night my 12 year old grandson did know the answer, he has "done about the war" in school.
I didn't learn anything about the war whilst I was at school in 70/80's, but my kids, one who sat History GCSE last year and one who is half way through the curriculum can give you chapter and verse about the lot. The Cold War is also featured very heavily and at AS/A Level, Stalin is taught. I think it does depend on what exam board and course the school decides to use.
Definitely not taught about the world wars in the 50 60's. I don't think we learned anything past the Industrial Revolution. I was born just after the War. It wasn't history way back then. I know a lot about the world wars know, just through books, telephone and interest.