Secondary School History

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zac's mum\" post_id=\"2106584\" time=\"1682470278\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2106584 time=1682470278 user_id=53606]
As far as I can tell from those circa 2013 exam papers online, Sec 1 history used to be about various ancient kingdoms & civilizations eg Indus Valley and Han, Yuan dynasty.

Link:
https://kiasuexampaper.com/product/free-exam-paper-secondary-1-history/

Now the “new” syllabus has reverted back to Singapore’s history. But new chapter 1 starts as early as 14th to 18th century Temasek due to new sources of artefacts & historical accounts (Which i think our generation never learnt).[/quote]

Not emphasising Indus Valley, Han etc in curriculum probably makes sense since it has limited relevance to our sec 1 students 'concept' of history. Starting with the history of Singapore and then expanding it further into the rest of the world probably makes history more relatable.

I recall that the history lessons during my time start from 14th C (ruled by Parameswara and subsequently founding of the Malacca Sultanate). However, I'm not sure whether that's for the O Level or for Sec 1 general history as it's been a while.

[sharonkhoo]

floppy\" post_id=\"2106589\" time=\"1682474618\" user_id=\"97579:

Not emphasising Indus Valley, Han etc in curriculum probably makes sense since it has limited relevance to our sec 1 students 'concept' of history. Starting with the history of Singapore and then expanding it further into the rest of the world probably makes history more relatable.

I recall that the history lessons during my time start from 14th C (ruled by Parameswara and subsequently founding of the Malacca Sultanate). However, I'm not sure whether that's for the O Level or for Sec 1 general history as it's been a while.

I still think that learning something about ancient civilizations is important, even if less \"relatable\". Does the syllabus extend from local to world in the general school syllabus (Pr- lower sec)? I must say that Singaporean students often come across as rather limited in their general knowledge, and if the school syllabus shrinks even more, that's going to be worse! They may be great at the \"core\" subjects, but I think they should also know some general history, geography, world affairs, literature, etc.

[zac's mum]

https://i.imgur.com/Hwdf17S.jpg

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Here u go, the “new” Sec 1 history textbook contents page above. Not very different from our generation I suppose.

The main difference now is the source-based question type (infer, compare, give your opinion) that the kids need to learn how to answer. Our time only had factual regurgitation questions (describe/explain). Some kids like it, some don’t.

[sharonkhoo]

"My time" (1970s) - lower sec history was ancient/older civilizations - Mesopotamia, Renaissance, India etc. There must have been more, but I can’t recall now. We didn’t do Singapore stuff at all - probably still too sensitive at the time. Or maybe it was done at upper sec or JC? I dropped History after Sec 2.


Now, my impression is that quite a lot of Singapore stuff in social studies, so students may be overdosed with Singapore stuff. Hopefully they will do other countries’ history in sec 2!

[zac's mum]

I hope they do. Learning only about one’s own country’s history is way too insular, especially since we are such a connected country! DS even noticed that his Sec 1 textbook told about the Anglo-Dutch Treaty from the Brits’ point of view. He asked me, what about the Dutch’ point of view? Not mentioned in my textbook. Surely there would have been historical accounts in their museums??

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zac's mum\" post_id=\"2106607\" time=\"1682486366\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2106607 time=1682486366 user_id=53606]
I hope they do. Learning only about one’s own country’s history is way too insular, especially since we are such a connected country! DS even noticed that his Sec 1 textbook told about the Anglo-Dutch Treaty from the Brits’ point of view. He asked me, what about the Dutch’ point of view? Not mentioned in my textbook. Surely there would have been historical accounts in their museums??[/quote]

While learning only about one's own country's history is very insular, you have to start somewhere, especially for sec 1, who is approaching this topic for the first time. Hence, starting with Singapore (when it existed) to present day, that's a good start. No point getting sec 1 to start diving into Xia, Shang, Zhou, Spring Autumn, Warring States, Qin, Han, 3 Kingdoms, Jin, North and South dynasties, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, ROC & PRC... and that's history of only 1 other country (albeit probably the longest continuous history of any country in the world).

When you start with 14th C, and then ending up with present day, along the way, you start introducing other country's history of the same period, it's easier to understand and relate.

[Zeal mummy]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2106605\" time=\"1682484951\" user_id=\"28674:

\"My time\" (1970s) - lower sec history was ancient/older civilizations - Mesopotamia, Renaissance, India etc. There must have been more, but I can't recall now. We didn't do Singapore stuff at all - probably still too sensitive at the time. Or maybe it was done at upper sec or JC? I dropped History after Sec 2.

Now, my impression is that quite a lot of Singapore stuff in social studies, so students may be overdosed with Singapore stuff. Hopefully they will do other countries' history in sec 2!

Sec2 history is also about Singapore- A journey through time, 1299 to 1970s.

Yes, the students get to learn about Singapore and it’s current affairs in SS (or SS in another name). I like the current affairs part of history.

[sharonkhoo]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2106621\" time=\"1682497404\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2106621 time=1682497404 user_id=58173]
Sec2 history is also about Singapore- A journey through time, 1299 to 1970s.

Yes, the students get to learn about Singapore and it’s current affairs in SS (or SS in another name). I like the current affairs part of history.[/quote]

It seems that the Singapore syllabus is too insular for such a small country? Since many students only take History till Sec 2, I would have thought at least a year of lower sec should be spent on world history of some kind. If not, students will seem rather ignorant when they travel or meet foreigners.

We used to laugh when we met people from western countries who thought China, HK and Singapore were all the same, and people from big countries who knew nothing outside their own borders. Now it looks like tiny Singapore is going the same way!

[Zeal mummy]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2106623\" time=\"1682498889\" user_id=\"28674:

It seems that the Singapore syllabus is too insular for such a small country? Since many students only take History till Sec 2, I would have thought at least a year of lower sec should be spent on world history of some kind. If not, students will seem rather ignorant when they travel or meet foreigners.

We used to laugh when we met people from western countries who thought China, HK and Singapore were all the same, and people from big countries who knew nothing outside their own borders. Now it looks like tiny Singapore is going the same way!

Yes, I’ve met foreigners who think that Malaysia, HK and Singapore are the same too.. mostly because we group ourselves together in the US/UK schools.

But… Let’s try not to judge too quickly. Most of our students are not as ignorant as we think they would be, even if they don’t do world history. They do keep themselves abreast with world news and current affairs.. and many students do read widely on their own free time.

[sharonkhoo]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2106633\" time=\"1682505003\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2106633 time=1682505003 user_id=58173]
Yes, I’ve met foreigners who think that Malaysia, HK and Singapore are the same too.. mostly because we group ourselves together in the US/UK schools.

But… Let’s try not to judge too quickly. Most of our students are not as ignorant as we think they would be, even if they don’t do world history. They do keep themselves abreast with world news and current affairs.. and many students do read widely on their own free time.[/quote]

Some students do, but I fear many do not. And I'm not only referring to the not-so-strong students; I've met Sg students in competitive schools here, and competitive universities here and overseas, who have stunned me sometimes with their lack of knowledge of basic (to me) general knowledge. I can't give you specific examples, but I'm not making it up!