John Simkin (born 25 June 1945 in London) is an English history teacher, and is the founder and author of Spartacus Educational, a historical encyclopedia mainly focused on Britain and the U.S.
Early life
John failed his 11+ and after leaving school at 15 he worked in the print trade. As soon as he completed his apprenticeship he left the industry and in 1966 he was employed by a major brewery to manage an off-licence. While working full-time he took his first degree at the Open University (1970-77). This was followed by a PGCE at Sussex University (1977-78). He began work as a teacher of history and sociology at Heathfield Comprehensive in September, 1978. At the same time he carried out research into the role that schooling plays in the development of political consciousness. This resulted in the award of an MPhil from Sussex in 1982.
Educational publishing
Dissatisfied with the quality of teaching materials being produced by commercial publishers, Simkin joined forces with a group of academics from Sussex University and classroom teachers in the Brighton area, to establish Tressell Publications in 1980. Simkin’s early books concentrated on developing history skills in students. Tressell also pioneered the development of using computer programs in the history classroom. For example, Into the Unknown, Attack on the Somme and Wagon’s West. In 1984 he co-edited with David Simkin, the book, Curriculum Development in Action.
In 1984 Simkin established Spartacus Education. Over the next 13 years the company published books and computer software for teachers of History, Geography, Mathematics and English. Books written by Simkin include Gandhi (1987), The Vietnam War (1988), Race Relations in the United States (1988), Slavery: An Illustrated History of Black Resistance (1988), Hitler (1988), Stalin (1987), The Roman Empire (1991), Making of the United Kingdom (1992), Expansion, Trade and Industry (1992), The Medieval Village (1996) and The Norman Invasion (1996).#
Online publishing
In September 1997 Spartacus abandoned book publishing and became one of the first companies to provide free online teaching materials. The website is a collection of history encyclopaedias. Titles include British History: 1750-1960, United States: 1840-1980, First World War, Second World War, Russia: 1860-1945, The Cold War, Watergate, Spies and Spymasters, Assassination of JFK, Spanish Civil War, Medieval World, Tudors & Stuarts, Germany: 1900-1945 and France: 1900-1945. Entries usually include a narrative, illustrations and primary sources. The text within each entry is hyperlinked internally, to other relevant pages in the encyclopaedia. The sources are also hyper-linked, for the writer, artist, newspaper or organization that produced the source material.
Interests
Simkin's major area of research concerns the struggle for democracy and the resistance that has taken place under military dictatorships. He is particularly interested in the role intelligence services have played in undermining democracy in the developed world and the supporting of military dictatorships in underdeveloped countries.
Over the last ten years Simkin has also worked as an educational adviser and online content provider for The Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, Historical Association, European Commission, DfES, Becta, etc.
International Education Forum
In 2003 Simkin joined Andy Walker in establishing the International Education Forum. Initially it was set up to enable teachers from all over the world to post information, ask and answer questions, and to take part in debates about education. The forum also helps teachers to find partners for subject specific and cross-curricular curriculum projects. It later became a place where historians could discuss their research with other like-minded individuals. The Forum also provides a platform for authors who are willing to discuss their books with their readers.
European History E-Learning Project
John Simkin is also a member of the European History E-Learning Project (E-Help), which aims to encourage and improve use of ICT and the internet in classrooms across the continent. The E-Help team includes historians from France, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK. Over the next three years they will be researching, evaluating and presenting evidence of good practice in ICT and the internet in history teaching. The information will be available on E-Help's website and forum, due to be launched by the end of 2006.
John, I'd like to talk to you about Lisa Howard. I am a writer. Would you please email me? Thanks!
Guest
2. 21-07-2010 17:58
Hello John -
I'm attempting to contact you as I have a query regarding a selection we would like to use in our school textbook. If you read this please reply and I can provide details.
thanks
Ren
Guest
3. 12-11-2010 17:57
Interested in discussing in more detail the photograph of Michael Jon Hand, Maurice Bernard "Bernie" Houghton and Earl Helliwell, purported to have been taken in Dallas, Nov 1963.
Possibility Hand may have neen involved in disappearance of James H. W. "Jim" Thompson, Thai Silk King, Easter Sunday, 1967 in Cameron Highlands, Cenrtral Malaysia.
CIA acknowledges file on Thompson exists, but claims appropiately classifed and "sealed by executive order".
Guest
4. 17-12-2010 06:58
Dear Simkin, I'm reading your very interesting forum on Mary Pinchot Meyer. I have not understood if the ook Mary's Mosaic by Peter Janney has been publishe. It is vary strange, but it seems to me it is impossible to find this book. can you help me? Thank you very much and best wishes for your precious work Florindo Pirone
Guest
5. 09-03-2011 21:14
Dear Mr Simkin,
Could I possibly get your email address? I would love to discuss some things regarding the New Deal as I am writing a dissertation on it.
Thank you
Guest
6. 07-04-2011 19:05
John,
Can you shed any light on where I may obtain a booklet created for use in schools (I think by Tressell publications) in the 1980s about 'The assassination of JFK'? I recall it being a slim book in black and white print.
Thanks
Guest
7. 14-04-2011 16:53
Hello, my name is Romel Newell I am looking for a way to come in contact with Mr. Simkin. The reason why I am so dedicated to getting in contact with him is because I am doing a research paper on General Erwin Rommel and I would love his assistants. So if you could please email me back at romel.newell@gmail.com I would really appreciatae it.
Sincerly, Romel Newell
Guest
8. 11-08-2011 07:57
When I try to open the ed forum,this message occurs.
"Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /index.php on this server.
Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. Apache/2.2.17 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.17 OpenSSL/0.9.8e-fips-rhel5 mod_bwlimited/1.4 mod_fcgid/2.3.5 Server at educationforum.ipbhost.com Port 80"
??? thx
Guest
9. 28-09-2011 17:40
Greetings John:
I am the DanielSheehan who filed and prosecuted the Iran/Contra Case against forme American C.I.A. A.D.D.O. Theodore G. Shackley,Air Force Major General Richard V.Secord; U.S. Army Major General Jack K. Singlaub and the other membersd of"The Enterprise". I also served as Chief Counsel in The Karen Silkwood Case and was Co-Counsel with Floyd Abrams in The Pentagon Paers Case for The New York Times.
I am trying to find a contact number for James Richards who provided a number of photogtraphs of JFK's presidential motorcade on November 22, 1963. I want to speak directly with James, if you have a telephone number for him. I am in a meeting right now (Wednesday, Sept 28, 2011 at 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time U.S.) with Richard N. Billings who, as you know, was the co-author, with G. Robert Blakey, of THE PLOT TO KILL THE PRESIDENT. I have a need to speak directly with James Richards about one of the photgraphs that he secured taken at Dealey Plaza on NOv 22nd.
If you have a contact num,ber for him, please forward it to me via Dick Billing's email address at dickbillings@localnet.com or call us at (401) 348-6442.
Thank you.
Dan Sheehan
Guest
10. 31-03-2012 17:16
Peter Janney's book Mary's Mosaic on Mary Pinchot Meyer and the assassination of JFK will be published April 3, 2012 and is available for order via Amazon.
