Thomas Bender, a professor of history and humanities at New York University, wants us to focus instead on what makes the United States the same.

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Alongside sciences, the English Baccalaureate comprises English, maths and humanities - which is a choice of history or geography - and a language.

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Many graduated with degrees in history, literature, or an other humanities field, but they are still required to teach math and science.

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"It is also a concern that secondary schools are squeezing history out of the curriculum or into general humanities courses, " he said.

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Fellow historian, vice-president and dean of the faculty of humanities Professor Keith Brown, said that Mr Wood would bring the university "his expertise in making history accessible to the public".

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