Money talks and bullshit walks, an occasional series

This week in MTBW, Michael Gove:

I am delighted to announce today that Professor Simon Schama has agreed to advise us on how we can put British history at the heart of a revived national curriculum.

What, precisely, has Professor Simon Schama agreed to do?

I am delighted to announce today that Professor Simon Schama has agreed to advise us on how we can put British history at the heart of a revived national curriculum.

No, sorry, that's not actually very precise at all. It sounds as if Professor Schama has agreed to write a national curriculum or possibly to direct the assembly of source and classroom materials for one. But that would be a very large administrative project, of a scale which would surely be incompatible with his existing teaching, writing and broadcasting commitments if he were to have more than token involvement with producing it. Or perhaps he has agreed to put aside those other commitments to concentrate on this, a self-sacrificing act of public service of the sort that should surely be rewarded with a peerage or knighthood. But it doesn't actually say what level of involvement Prof. Schama has committed to. What is the deliverable, when is the due date for Prof. Schama's contribution and, if I may be so vulgar, what sort of fee arrangement has been agreed?

I am delighted to announce today that Professor Simon Schama has agreed to advise us on how we can put British history at the heart of a revived national curriculum.

"Money talks and bullshit walks".