THE CASE FOR HISTORY TO CONTINUE IN SCHOOLS

Every Aidilfitri in the last few years these former students of Sekolah Menengah Darulaman Alor Star

never failed to invite their former teachers to the Hari Raya gathering. We are pround to attend and many of them proud parents themselves, busy with family obligations of their own never missed  the do. Happily history was taught and part of the curriculum then 1973 - 1980. Thankful that they remember their growing days at the school. 

THERE IS NOW A DEMAND INDEED A DIRECTIVE FOR HISTORY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SPM EXAMINATION ( THE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE). THAT IT WILL BE A COMPULSORY SUBJECT FOR PASSING HAS NOW BECOME A DEBATE.

YET IT IS NOT THE STUDENTS WHO WORRY ABOUT PASSING OR OTHERWISE BUT OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY: SO CALLED CHAMPIONS WHO HAVE AXES TO GRIND. NOW QUESTIONS OF TEACHING APPROACH, SUBJECT MATTER COME TO THE FORE.

ARE WE WORRYING THAT HISTORY WITH ALL ITS IMPLICATIONS OF NATIONHOOD, CITIZENSHIP, EMERGENCY, POLITICAL GROWTH, ARRIVAL OF IMMIGRANTS, COLONIZATION, SULTANATE, BRITISH COLONY, FEDERATED OR UNFEDERATED MALAY STATES ETC ETC, WOULD CAUSE UPHEAVAL OR A NEW PERSPECTIVE? RIGHTLY MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN THEIR REAL IMPLICATIONS, CAUSE AND EFFECTS. THEREFORE WHY NOT LOOK BACK .

BUT THAT ISN'T THE PURPOSE OF IT ALL. THOSE OF US WHO LEARN HISTORY EITHER AT SCHOOLS OR IN THE UNIVERSITIES WILL REALISE IT HAS BENEFITS BEYOND THE DOORS OF THE INSTITUTIONS. HISTORY ENCIRCLES OUR OWN EXISTENCE TOO.

BEING HERE AT MAKKAH WHAT WOULD I KNOW OF ITS HISTORY, ITS GREATNESS IF I HAVE NOT A WHIM OF ITS STORY? WOULD I BE CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE? WOULD I BOTHER TO READ AND SEARCH FOR STORIES OF NOW AND BEFORE? WOULD I UNDERSTAND THE HAJ AND ALL ITS ASPECTS IF I NEVER CARE WHAT HAS PASSED BEFORE NOW?

BE WHEREVER YOU ARE YOU ARE A STRANGER MORE SO AT A LOSS AND BLIND TO ALL AROUND YOU IF YOU KNOW NOTHING OF THE PLACE. FOR THAT SIMPLE REASON BOOKS, BROCHURES, MAPS AND PAMPHLETS ARE PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED FOR INFORMATION   TOURISTS AND VISITORS TO NEW PLACES GET A QUICK BACKGROUND OF THE AREA AND THEREFORE FREER TO PLAN THEIR ITINERARY . CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT! ALAS HOW CURIOUS CAN WE GET ABOUT PLACES, FACES, PALACES, CASES, BATTLES ETC WHEN WE DON'T HECK OF A MOMENT BOTHER TO KNOW OUR PAST GLORIES, ACHIEVEMENTS. WHOSE FAILURE IS IT?

THAT MALAYSIAN YOUTH TRAVEL UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY IN INTER-STATE BUSES, TRAINS OR OTHER VEHICLES WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE TOWNS AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH PLACES PASSED ALONG THE WAY ONLY BETOLD THEIR IGNORANCE AND POOR GRASP OF HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY. YES HOW MANY RECOGNIZE 'TAIPING', 'SLIM RIVER', 'MENTAKAB', 'RAUB', KUALA NERANG', 'KUALA PILAH', ' PORT WELD', 'JESSELTON' , 'PORT DICKSON'  ETC FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS? MUCH LESS ABOUT NATIONAL LEADERS OF MALAYSIA. PRIDE FAILS TO SURFACE. ONLY PREJUDICE APPEARS ITS UGLY HEAD. 

LET'S THIS EXERTION, REALIZATION AND PLEA TO INCLUDE HISTORY GETS FULL SUPPORT. NO QUALMS  ABOUT ITS OBJECTIVES.

( A thought that passed by months ago but never saw the light of day or simply got posted lni Kotastar. till now)