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To be launched by President S R Nathan at the opening of Carnival@Marina
on 6 August 2005, the book contains 366 entries, contributed
by students, for every day of the year. While the book is a
gift from students to the nation on its 40th birthday, every
student and teacher will be given a copy of the book as a National
Day present. The book will also be sold to the public, with
the profits going to the Straits Times Pocket Money Fund for
needy students.
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| Colourful
drawings fill every page of this unique book capturing
Singapore's history. |
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The book is unique in presenting students' perspectives on both
well-known and less well-known events in Singapore's history.
As the book covers every day of the year, it will have some
significance for everyone.
A nation-wide project of this nature involves parents as well
as the community at large, to facilitate understanding, and,
provide resource materials for the students' research.
(Click
to read more)
| Back in 2002, then Education Minister Teo
Chee Hean suggested that Singapore students
should have the opportunity to research and
reflect on events that happened on their birthdays
in the past. Singapore could have its own version
of Today In History, a concept that is used
in several countries. |
| Students' research was linked to what happened
on their birthdays, which helped them identify
with past events in Singapore’s history. Whether
happy or sad, the event constitutes part of
our identity and has contributed to shaping
present-day Singapore in big and small ways. |
| Selection criteria for submissions, in written
or illustrated form, were a combination of the
interest value and significance of the event,
the quality of writing, spontaneity and fresh
perspectives on familiar issues or events. |
| Teachers themselves were first introduced
to the resources in the National Library Board
– Singapore Reference section, microfilm machines,
multi-media stations which allow access to e-library
hub and Singapore Pages and the InfoXpress database.
They then disseminated the information and research
tools to their students, who, in turn, involved
their parents in the research process. |
| Schools were given the liberty to choose how
to implement the project. Some assigned it to
a specific level, e.g. Pri 4 pupils, while others
chose to integrate it with Project Work or through
subjects such as History, Social Studies and
English Language. Yet others invited volunteers
while some teachers were so persuaded by the
value of the project that they involved every
student in it. |
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A total of 363 schools participated – all primary and secondary
schools, junior colleges and eight Special Education schools.
The book has a total of 466 student authors and illustrators
but the project is the collective effort of many more students
and schools than those represented in the pages.
All in, the Today in History: Singapore Project Committee
received more than 4000 entries throughout 2004. The research,
submissions and revisions of selected entries took one full
year from December 2003 to December 2004.
The validation of the information submitted involved not only
staff of the National Library Board, but involved also Associate
Professor Ernest Chew of the University Scholars Programme at
NUS as well.
(Click
to read more)
We faced numerous problems
such as our birthdays not having any link with
any historical events in Singapore. However,
with hard work, we finally found out that something
very special happened during one of our birthdays.
We feel proud as we think that we have done
a good job and we have represented our class
and school in this prestigious, nation-wide
competition. Through this experience, we learnt
about teamwork which cannot be taught in classrooms.
It is a valuable experience for us!
— Muhammad Zahir & Zhan Hong (14 years
old), Riverside Secondary |
It was a meaningful project
as I helped my daughter to search for events
that happened on her birthday. We went to the
Woodlands Regional Library, where many parents
had also gathered to help their children with
this project. From a file shared with me by
one of the parents, we found out that the very
first Cold Storage outlet was opened at Orchard
Road on 30 March 1903.
— Mdm Jothisivaram, mother of S Geethanjali,
Pri 5, Jiemin Primary |
I personally enjoyed reading
the students' mini research. The students discovered
for themselves that history is an interesting
subject because they realised that history happened
everyday and they found it even more exciting
that some kind of historical event had occurred
on their birthdays. They found that history
was very meaningful as it contained true stories
about real people, happy and sad events.
The students also learnt to summarise the points
and information they had gathered. They managed
to overcome difficulties with the help of their
teachers, parents, siblings and good friends.
All in all, they said they enjoyed doing this
project. They have become more knowledgeable
through reading and sharing different stories
with their friends. I am very glad and proud
to have had five entries from my school selected
for Today in History : Singapore.
— Mrs Nancy Yong, Teacher-in-charge, TIH
Project, Chai Chee Secondary |
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