Sanitising History - Mayflower 400

Information from Mayflower Mavericks; see new link on our "kindred spirits" list

In 1620 the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, UK and in 2020 the 400-year anniversary of the sailing is being commemorated, centred in Plymouth UK. Highly selective and sanitised education preparations have already started... the Mayflower 400 organisers have published ‘The Mayflower 400 Scheme of Work’.   This scheme of work centres on the ‘Separatist’ Puritan half of the Mayflower passengers. Consequently the plan of study it details relegates the story of the Indigenous Nations of North America to a subsidiary place and sanitises the Mayflower Story.

The scheme is already available for use by education institutions. By 2019 this scheme could have been tried, tested and be on school timetables across all 11 of the partner ‘Mayflower Destination’ towns/cities in the UK,  international partner towns/cities in Holland and the USA, and possibly beyond. We are asking people and organisations to protest directly to the Mayflower 400 organisers (See below).

"A slightly fanciful nautical scene exactly contemporaneous with the embarkation of the Pilgrims in 1620."
From Alastair Cooke's America (1973/2002) pp.74-75.

Firstly, we have prepared a very brief model letter [on website]...

Secondly, we would invite you to review our website, and that of Mayflower 400, and raise “The Mayflower 400 Scheme of Work” and related issues with individuals or organisations you feel may be concerned about the risk it poses for bringing historical education into disrepute. Leaflets presenting a critique of Mayflower 400’s present education project, and various commentaries are available via this website.

Please send us copies of any emails/ etc. you send that relate to this issue.

Thirdly, we are hoping to create a network of contacts to promote a campaign over the sanitisation of the Mayflower Story. We invite you to become part of this network. Please contact us via this website or out twitter account @MayflowerM1620.