Question
How important is it to keep our countrys history fresh in the minds of our youth?
In Singapore, we have history books that tell the stories of our forefathers, but is there value in doing other things to keep our past fresh and alive for the young, perhaps through cultural events and features like heritage trails? Share your thoughts with me.
Answer
Certainly history books are an invaluable source of information but then there can never be ONE comprehensive source. History is subjective it is subject to personal insights and individual perspectives but this is what makes it so interesting. What intrigues me about the countrys history is its living history how people lived, who they thought, behaved, related to one another in communities etc. in an given period of time. For me, much of what I am today is shaped by oral history courtesy of my elders as well as school teachers who had the benefit of living through tumultous times. Their perspectives and interpretations of actual events are always fresh and exciting to the listener. Of course actual living conditions are irretrievably past and I can only imagine scenarios based on old pictures and movies. The visual recreations at heritage centers and museums all help to consolidate the historical information. I would add that not all of these orators are educated like the year old Ah Ma at the nursing home I serve at.brbrHeritage trails are fine if heritage sites are preserved. Buildings, bridges, trees etc have history too. How many archaelogical sites do we have in Singapore? How many shipwrecks of historical value have been found around Singapore waters? etc.. Probably this information exists but its availability to the general public is still lacking. Historical knowledge is scant in the memories of our present generation. I feel education is key and not just confined to schoolgoing children but to the general public which includes our new citizens.brbrEducation campaigns ought to be undertaken by who better than custodians of our historical inheritance museums?! Instead of promoting exhibits of foreign culture and civilisations, more should be done to promote knowledge of our own cultures, heritage and history. I love the new setup at the National History Museum but most folks dont step inside. I feel the National Heritage Board has done really well promoting all facets of history but the challenge lies in bringing history to the doors of the common folk the grassroots. We have a wealth of history in our elderlies why arent they being tapped on? Should museums have roadshows then? Id personally like to know how my neighbourhood was like years ago, who lived here, what were the industries, how it looked like etc. I like interesting information like how Lavender got its name, or how the area beyond SGH was all graveyards and gambier plantations at the turn of the century and why it was called Bukit Merah. The adult generation growing into their middle ages stilll possess such memories but if theyre not passed down to the young, they will die off. brbrAnd why not have a village concept? Camps where the young, even families, actually go and live out the past way of life? Even Mr Jack Sim is building a longhouse for his toilet college to give his students a taste of third nation living, why not this? Nothing beats firsthand experience.brbrWhat about tracing your family roots as an activity? Are there resources available to the average citizen to do so? Activities like this not only makes history fresh and alive but promote bonding within the family as well.brbrIt may be an expensive endeavor but knowledge of our history is indispensable to our identity as Singaporeans it has shaped us thus far and is integral to us retaining our uniqueness as a people, in a nation that is evolving and changing in its ethnic makeup and ever increasing diversity. It informs us of the ingredients that glue us together to form the fabric of Singapore society. It is essential to our survival and future prosperity.
