Secondary School History
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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]
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).
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]
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. -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2106605\" time=\"1682484951\" user_id=\"28674:
Sec2 history is also about Singapore- A journey through time, 1299 to 1970s.
\"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!
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. -
Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2106621\" time=\"1682497404\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2106621 time=1682497404 user_id=58173]
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.
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]
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! -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2106623\" time=\"1682498889\" user_id=\"28674:
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.
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!
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. -
Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2106633\" time=\"1682505003\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2106633 time=1682505003 user_id=58173]
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!
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] -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2106644\" time=\"1682514180\" user_id=\"28674:
I guess then, it’s these students.. and probably not the history curriculum.. whether they learn world history or not, they can still sound like they lack these knowledge. For some students… Reading history for school (with assessment) may erode passion for the subject..
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! -
Just putting a recommendation here, if anyone’s kid are interested in taking up core/elective History in upper sec. My boy discovered this whole WW2 documentary series on Netflix and spent his year-end holidays binge watching it. There’s apparently another series on famous dictators (i dunno if i should be concerned he i̶d̶o̶l̶i̶z̶e̶s̶ is fascinated by hitler and stalin…) The various countries’ tanks and fighter jets as well. Maybe it’s a boy thing.
https://www.netflix.com/sg/browse/genre/70905 -
zac's mum\" post_id=\"2125567\" time=\"1703494383\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2125567 time=1703494383 user_id=53606]
I think so! Not having boys, I was rather taken aback by my nephew's interest too when he was around the same age as your son. It wears off after a while and they move on to other things. He's very into long-distance running and cycling now - just completed a half-marathon! He's 17 now.
Just putting a recommendation here, if anyone’s kid are interested in taking up core/elective History in upper sec. My boy discovered this whole WW2 documentary series on Netflix and spent his year-end holidays binge watching it. There’s apparently another series on famous dictators (i dunno if i should be concerned he i̶d̶o̶l̶i̶z̶e̶s̶ is fascinated by hitler and stalin…) The various countries’ tanks and fighter jets as well. Maybe it’s a boy thing.
https://www.netflix.com/sg/browse/genre/70905[/quote] -
Yeah... it's a boy thing. Like the boys, I am fascinated by Hitler and Stalin and they represented how the world can be easily swayed by just a handful of humans holding an immense amount of power. Then I related them to how some of my bosses behave and the similarity is scary
Dunno, maybe I behave that way myself 
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