`Teaching history is a fine art'
Uncle Yap
1 Sept 2006
`Teaching history is a fine art'
by Kong See Hoh
A NOTED historian says students lack interest in history not because
it is boring but because teachers don't know how to make it
interesting.
A statement by Education Ministry parliamentary secretary P. Komala
Devi in Parliament on Tuesday, that "We decided to consolidate the
facts (in textbooks, thus omitting Yap Ah Loy's role in the
establishment of Kuala Lumpur, for example) to make history less
boring, drew flak from within and outside the house.
Ayer Hitam MP, Dr Wee Ka Siong, had asked why individuals such as Yap
Ah Loy had been excluded from textbooks, while there was only limited
information on personalities like Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun
Sambanthan.
Contacted by Nanyang Siang Pau, Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Kim
said Komala's reasoning was nonsensical.
"I have taught history for 40 years. I know why students are not
interested in history, because teachers must have special skills in
teaching it."
He said history textbooks now emphasise more on political factors, and
less on the culture and traditions of the various races. He said
textbooks should also include the Federal Constitution to give
students a good grasp of its history.
Gerakan deputy youth chief Lim Si Pin said authors of history
textbooks should not omit on a racial basis those who have contributed
to nation-building. He said authors should write based on facts and
not centre their texts around the races they belong to.
http://www.sun2surf.com
*************From Uncle Yap**************
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