One thing I noticed with the history curriculum that was taught to my kids, is that there has been an increasing focus on late 19th and 20th century history.
My take on the reason for this ? I think it's because there is so much more access to audio visual material to study - and the thinking goes that kids learn better that way.
If I'm right, we are seriously underestimating the intelligence of our youth- and worse, we are narrowing the scope of that intelligence, by moving them away from reading and imagination.
(And, of course, in the case of England, reducing the focus on the horrors wrought by our imperialistic past).
Could there be any greater conceit, than for someone to believe that the universe has to be simple enough for them to be able to understand it ?