tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7724177439519828268.post5162672601634847628..comments2023-10-09T08:34:15.312-07:00Comments on Norzah's Thoughts On Life: History to become a compulsory subject in schools..Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7724177439519828268.post-68623451320442864922010-10-28T00:07:39.944-07:002010-10-28T00:07:39.944-07:00Akhi Halim, Kaykuala and Pakcik Al-Manar,
It would...Akhi Halim, Kaykuala and Pakcik Al-Manar,<br />It would appear that everyone is agreed on the importance of history being taught in schools to get a good understanding of our historical development, our racial origins and our cultural inheritance. Whether it has been an interesting subject to us or not depended on the capability of the history teacher to bring the events and characters to life or just be presented as memoirs of the past.<br /><br />But look again at why the UMNO General Assembly decided that the teaching of history be made compulsory. So that inter alia, the kids of today know who were the national leaders who have brought to them the benefits of development and the prosperity and harmony we enjoy today. These include of course those who have fought against the Malayan Union, the Communists and negotiated for Independence. They must appreciate and respect the heroes.<br /><br />Nothing wrong with that. But has the full history of Independence been written relating the roles that our esteemed leaders have played. What if history teachers pick on their own heroes and present history from their own perspective. Wont the truth be distorted? Would it not be dangerous, for the young Malaysians may acquire a contradictory account of what happened, and each pay tributer to their own chosen heroes? How much of our modern history has been written and accepted by all? <br /><br />I'm all for history being seriously taught in schools. But to make it compulsory in the sense that if you fail the subject you fail the entire examination, I have my reservation.norzahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05325162246693348711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7724177439519828268.post-36967201269391450212010-10-27T10:37:53.187-07:002010-10-27T10:37:53.187-07:00Dear Norzah,
I studied history in Form 3 (std 7 t...Dear Norzah,<br /><br />I studied history in Form 3 (std 7 than)and I disliked the subject. It was all reading. I was more for maths and science. How happy I was that I could drop it from form 4.<br /><br />Somehow later in life I began to think that history is not bad after all. I remember some of the things I studied in form 3, the like of John Cabot's discovery of North East passage, the voyage of Pilgrims's Progress from Plymouth to North America, Boston Tea Party, East India Company etc. It was world history and I think one is richer to know something of the world.<br /><br />Today's history is very much about home with emphasis to make children 'patriotic'. I think on balance I prefer the world history if I were forced to choose.<br /><br />It is something like geography. I think people like us are richer than today's children with the knowledge about the world we live in. I remember beginning geography book with proofs that the earth was round! We learned to sketch maps of various continents, knowing cities of the world, large rivers of the world, deserts of the world, vegetations and occupations on earth , formation of fiords and valleys, ocean currents, etc, etc. <br /><br />My form form two pupils do not know what 'atlas' is believe it or not. Only this morning I was reading to Form 3 pupils Daphne Du Maurier's "Don't Look Now". They asked me whether Venice (the setting of the book) was a town somewhere on earth - in Italy, where was Italy?<br /><br />In short I just do not know what benefits today's children get from geography and history the learn today.Al-Manarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07203360858632549270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7724177439519828268.post-5897408604078166402010-10-27T04:21:34.603-07:002010-10-27T04:21:34.603-07:00Akhi Norzah,
Making 'History' compulsory m...Akhi Norzah,<br />Making 'History' compulsory means exposing ALL the young minds to matters relating to culture, religion and race. It needs a good moderator to diffuse any tensions arising from discussions. I'm not sure if this can be done well by any good teacher. The teacher may even colour it according to his own beliefs and prejudices. It would be tough going initially, I imagine.kaykualahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03240206222973305395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7724177439519828268.post-42773549747488010262010-10-26T01:11:00.784-07:002010-10-26T01:11:00.784-07:00Akhi Norzah,
As far as I could recall ...Akhi Norzah,<br /> As far as I could recall my former schooldays in learning history, you hit the nail right on the head with regard to teachers who are teaching the subject. One can either become an avid learner of history or hate the subject depending on who is teaching it. I had one great history teacher who died in a car crash by the name of Mr. Anton Ponniah, when he taught the subject, everyone was alert and he made it a real lively subject. However not many has this talent and now since it has become a compulsory subject, I have my reservations.<br /> But it is in the right direction and let us hope that every good citizen of this country begins with the knowledge of the past, especially how this Nation was born.abdulhalimshahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09238556448779778756noreply@blogger.com