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This is the History website of Mr Samuel Wee, and is for any and all History students and amateur historians from Ping Yi Secondary School.
This will be a platform for me to share issues, subjects, events and people of historical interest with other like-minded lovers of history.
It is very common to hear questions such as: "What does the past have to do with the present?" It is my hope that this website will go some way to put such doubts and queries to rest.
History, or the interpretation of the past, does have a lot to do with making sense of the present!
So - "WHY STUDY HISTORY?"
Surprisingly, this is a question that is posed, more often than not, by parents than by students. I mulled over this a long time. Why are the young relatively more untainted by academic prejudices than the adults? Could it be that society at large has simply come to view education as a utilitarian stepping-stone to a profitable career? If so, then the study of history is understandably relegated with much disdain to the Fourth Division of school subjects.
We dismiss at our own risk, any academic discipline as being useless. And certainly, an objective understanding of the past is never useless. Not only does the study of history cultivate the rigour of thinking critically, but it enhances our empathy for people in different circumstances in time. Perspective-taking, so crucial a social skill, is nurtured by a constant examination of different sources of information. Not the very least, we can never fully understand the present without some knowledge of the past.
WHAT IS HISTORY FOR?
There is one very stubborn, persistent and unfair stereotype that many people have about the study of history. It is the unfortunate idea that "the past" is all and only about dates, dead people and boring events - recorded in thick textbooks.
Well, it isn't that!
History - the stories of "the past" - is never static. In fact, as new facts are discovered, and new sources of information and data come to light, our understanding of "the past" can be modified and even improved!
This constant reviewing and revision of our view of the past, in fact, allows for many different opinions about events that happened, even though these events have already happened!
Ok, this next question will tax your brain a little...but try it! - Is there a difference between "HISTORY" and "THE PAST"?
So, why does history matter?
For a crazy, wacky but magical look at all things of the past, you MUST CHECK OUT the Horrible Histories Channel!
The Horrible Histories team have gone a long way to make the learning of History fun again!
Here is just one delightful sample, for all you music lovers:
Are you trying to decide whether or not to study
History at Upper Secondary level?
Here are some of my quick thoughts on history:
"The knowledge of the past is absolutely essential to understand the present."
The past is all about influential people who made decisions that impacted the way we live today."
Take, for example, the Second World War:
Ever wondered how things began? How, for example, did the ancient game of football become the world's number one sport today? Did you know that football might have begun in ......China?
So your school has a niche area in aeronautics? Well, even the modern, technologically advanced aeroplane industry had modest beginnings ....
Thinking like a historian is very much to observe, examine, deduce, think and analyse like one of the greatest heroes of all time (although fictional) - the sensational detective Sherlock Holmes:
Why is it considered good manners to say "please" "thank you" and "you're welcome"? Take a peek into the history of modern Etiquette:
Don't like history? Wonder why you chose this subject?
Then you must avoid this video clip at all costs! It only shows how teachers taught during the reign of Queen Victoria of England, in the 1800s.
My history pages
Some pages here will be filled up or added on whenever appropriate. Others will move along more freely as I teach my classes in the course of the year.
These pages will include information on:
Historians - those men and women at the front-lines of historical thinking.
Historical subjects - this will accompany my lessons in school.
In the news - fascinating news items regarding history.
Queen Victoria’s statue unveiled by the Chinese community in Singapore in 1887, on the occasion of her fiftieth year on the throne. The 6-feet high marble statue was presented to the Governor, Sir Cecil Clementi Smith.
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