SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 1994
3
STUDYING HISTORY OUTSIDE CLASSROOM
THERE IS A CHINESE SAYING WHICH GOES: "IT IS BETTER TO TRAVEL 10,000 MILES THAN TO READ 10,000 BOOKS."
WHAT THIS SAYING TEACHES IS THAT STUDY SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED
TO THE CLASSROOM.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SHARES THE SAME VIEW, AND RECENTLY DEMONSTRATED HOW STUDENTS COULD LEARN LOCAL HISTORY BETTER BY VISITING PLACES OF HISTORICAL INTEREST.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE HAS RECENTLY ORGANISED A TWO-DAY "HISTORY OUTSIDE THR CLASSROOM" FIELD-WORK AND WORKSHOP IN THE PING SHAN HERITAGE TRAIL FOR 30 HISTORY TEACHERS FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
IT WAS ONE IN A SERIES OF SIMILAR EVENTS TO HELP TEACHERS ACQUIRE NEW PERSPECTIVES IN THE TEACHING OF HISTORY IN HONG KONG SCHOOLS.
AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SUCH ACTIVITIES WERE ORGANISED WITH A VIEW TO CHANGING THE TRADITIONAL CONCEPT THAT HISTORY COULD ONLY BE TAUGHT INSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
"TEACHING HISTORY IS NOW A DIFFERENT MATTER WITH THE INCLUSION OF LOCAL HISTORY IN THE SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM IN 1992 AND ITS IMMINENT INCORPORATION IN THE FORMAL HISTORY CURRICULUM FOR SECONDARY ONE ΤΟ THREE, HE SAID.
**
"THE CURRICULUM FOR SIXTH FORM INCLUDES THE HISTORY AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG FROM 1800 WHILE THAT PROPOSED FOR 81-3 EXTENDS THE STUDY OF LOCAL HISTORY TO THE PERIOD BEFORE 1800.
"HISTORY BECOMES A MORE INTERESTING SUBJECT WHEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CAN PAY VISITS TO THESE HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND LEARN ABOUT THE CHANGE, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG THROUGH LIVING, CONCRETE EVIDENCE."
THE TWO-DAY FIELD-WORK AND WORKSHOP HAS DRAWN FAVOVRABLE COMMENTS FROM MOST OF THE 30 PARTICIPANTS.
"THEY ARE EXTREMELY USEFUL AND GIVE US A COMPLETE NEW IDEA OF HISTORY TEACHING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM," ONE PARTICIPATING TEACHER SAID.
HE ADDED THAT HE WOULD TRY TO BRING STUDENTS ON FIELD TRIPS IN LEARNING HISTORY WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
**
"STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND BETTER AND ENJOY HISTORY LEARNING MORE THROUGH PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN AFTER EACH FIELD TRIP,
ANOTHER TEACHER SAID.
/"LEARNING HISTORY