The heritage trail has exposed many things for me as a student. Important facts and ideas that I wasn’t exposed to in school was out in the open for me. Through sculptures, paintings, preserved buildings I was not only able to form my own assumptions and justify them but also was able to challenge preconceived notions about Singapore with ease. This trail also made me realise that our education, especially Singapore’s History at Pre-University level, is taught in a very limited and narrow scope. As students we aren’t really exposed to a lot of stuff and we are not allowed to challenge assumptions, specifically that about Singapore’s formation and its survival before 1819.
I definitely learnt a lot more things about Singapore. As a history student however, I was able to put things together and form my own thoughts about the birth of Singapore. One aspect of this trial that I found was exceptionally interesting was the meanings behind the architectural structure
1. Architecture
The architectural structure of the buildings in Singapore gives a glimpse of what life in Pre-1819 Singapore was like. They often had various meanings behind it, unlike today. Take for example; such structures would reflect one’s vocation, wealth and economic status and sometimes even the particular group of dialect or race that the person belongs to.
Certain buildings also show how specific groups of people had allocated areas for them. Take for example, the Chinese on the east and the Indians on the west. On a closer inspection we do see remnants of evidences to show how communication and trade was made possible back then.
Another notion is that such architectural structures are preserved to educate the young about the history of our culture, how Singapore evolved and somehow to justify that was a Singapore before 1819. However, only popular historical sites and buildings are often harped upon for they more clearly represent and portray the formation of Singapore, the maintenance of its legislative system and how it evolved to become the First World Nation that it is today. This shadows other less known places which I feel are more rich in offering an in-depth analysis of what kind of country Singapore was like. Furthermore, it is these places that clearly represent why certain dialect groups and certain races are often linked with specific vocations and even specific streets and places of Singapore. We aren’t really exposed to such interesting facts and notions in our curriculums, rather what is often stressed upon in our education is how Singapore was formed.
We do need a new approach to the teaching of Singapore History. It shouldn’t just be a one sided narration which encourages nothing more than blind acceptance of our history but rather students should be exposed to such interesting aspects of Singapore which allows them to analyse, question and evaluate for themselves whether the stories told by our grandparents is really true and whether Singapore really reflects the slanted narration in our textbooks. History students and teachers shouldn’t just be mere patronisers of our History but rather analysers and critiques of it.
Jasmine
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
More than just a stupid white statue
Reflections by Izzan
Many times when people ask us about Singapore history, I seem to recall only one name coming up that is of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. Yet on our way through our heritage trail, we came up upon many people and parts of Singapore history that not many people seem to notice today. While people are familiar with the Merlion and Raffles Landing Statue, not many others are well known. The 6 bridges consisting of Anderson, Cavenagh, Read, Ord, Elgin and Coleman were all named after well-respected officials which all were important figures of Singapore History.
All along the Singapore River, there are many different figurines ranging from the Kucinta Cats to coolies interacting with merchants. While all these people do not seem to have an important part in Singapore history, they represent the life and culture of people during that time. They show a part of Singapore that had come before and after Raffles had landed and are probably the forefathers of most of us today.
One thing that strikes all of us on our trail was how much history there was to this tiny island of nearly 200 years of history from the first time Raffles landed upon the island. I think that present people of our country should learn more about our past and bring it forth to future generations so that not only do we preserve a part of our history in all of us, but we identify with it as well and remembered how it was more than just one man at the right time who gave birth to Singapore
Many times when people ask us about Singapore history, I seem to recall only one name coming up that is of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. Yet on our way through our heritage trail, we came up upon many people and parts of Singapore history that not many people seem to notice today. While people are familiar with the Merlion and Raffles Landing Statue, not many others are well known. The 6 bridges consisting of Anderson, Cavenagh, Read, Ord, Elgin and Coleman were all named after well-respected officials which all were important figures of Singapore History.
All along the Singapore River, there are many different figurines ranging from the Kucinta Cats to coolies interacting with merchants. While all these people do not seem to have an important part in Singapore history, they represent the life and culture of people during that time. They show a part of Singapore that had come before and after Raffles had landed and are probably the forefathers of most of us today.
One thing that strikes all of us on our trail was how much history there was to this tiny island of nearly 200 years of history from the first time Raffles landed upon the island. I think that present people of our country should learn more about our past and bring it forth to future generations so that not only do we preserve a part of our history in all of us, but we identify with it as well and remembered how it was more than just one man at the right time who gave birth to Singapore
Monday, March 2, 2009
Jace's reflection
On the heritage trail of the Singapore river, I have gained many new insights about Singapore in the past. I was rather amazed by the history of the many bridges that we saw along the way, like that of the Cavenagh bridge, dating back to 1869. I may have walked past this part of Singapore many times but it never crossed my mind to probe the reasons for the infrastructure or its existence.
What I found especially interesting was that Cavenagh Bridge was built with a mistake, that is – its arch was too low and boats could only pass during low tides. In addition, I learnt about the significance to the various sculptures along Singapore River and what it embodies. To the unknown, these sculptures may just be mere pieces of art, but after learning about the history of it, the sculptures took on new significance.
An example, ‘The River Merchants’ near the Cavenagh Bridge is a reminder of the site of former godowns that Mr Alexander Laurie Johnston once owned. This provides an illustration of how river activities were like last time and it is merely one of the many that we encountered along the way.
What I found especially interesting was that Cavenagh Bridge was built with a mistake, that is – its arch was too low and boats could only pass during low tides. In addition, I learnt about the significance to the various sculptures along Singapore River and what it embodies. To the unknown, these sculptures may just be mere pieces of art, but after learning about the history of it, the sculptures took on new significance.
An example, ‘The River Merchants’ near the Cavenagh Bridge is a reminder of the site of former godowns that Mr Alexander Laurie Johnston once owned. This provides an illustration of how river activities were like last time and it is merely one of the many that we encountered along the way.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Reflections by Ngiap Hui
I initially thought I had known Singapore rather well enough, especially her historical past, but realised I was rather wrong after having gone through this intensive and purposeful Heritage Trail. I did not know that the Singapore River was that long. I did not know the existence of the 6 bridges across the river and also the names they bore which some appeared so foreign to me during the trail (Read and Ord Bridge). It took our group about 5 hrs to complete our trail and surely it was one of the longest walks in my life, but quite fun and enriching given that knowledge and awareness were acquired along the journey (the time capsule and the locations of various interesting statues etc). I appreciate this arrangement for the groups to embark on this learning journey which was tailored but not imposing on the dimensions and possibilities for us to learn. Had it been a classroom-based lesson, I suppose many of us would have been bored to death or switched off before we could absorb everything.
Apart from some fun garnered from the trip, I was also inspired on the future possible History lesson I could conduct for my students. Although it won't be that easy to get them to embark on their own Heritage Trails, this idea is still a possibility requiring some arrangements though. The blogging idea is good also, given that students are given the freedom to present their findings anyway they like and could, and which is accessible to all. Surely not every knowledge could be acquired in the classroom. There are definitely some which may be learned more effectively if we were to bring them out of the 4 walls and boundary to explore the historical wealth that lays beyond.
I initially thought I had known Singapore rather well enough, especially her historical past, but realised I was rather wrong after having gone through this intensive and purposeful Heritage Trail. I did not know that the Singapore River was that long. I did not know the existence of the 6 bridges across the river and also the names they bore which some appeared so foreign to me during the trail (Read and Ord Bridge). It took our group about 5 hrs to complete our trail and surely it was one of the longest walks in my life, but quite fun and enriching given that knowledge and awareness were acquired along the journey (the time capsule and the locations of various interesting statues etc). I appreciate this arrangement for the groups to embark on this learning journey which was tailored but not imposing on the dimensions and possibilities for us to learn. Had it been a classroom-based lesson, I suppose many of us would have been bored to death or switched off before we could absorb everything.
Apart from some fun garnered from the trip, I was also inspired on the future possible History lesson I could conduct for my students. Although it won't be that easy to get them to embark on their own Heritage Trails, this idea is still a possibility requiring some arrangements though. The blogging idea is good also, given that students are given the freedom to present their findings anyway they like and could, and which is accessible to all. Surely not every knowledge could be acquired in the classroom. There are definitely some which may be learned more effectively if we were to bring them out of the 4 walls and boundary to explore the historical wealth that lays beyond.
References
Uniquely Singapore - Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. (2009). Retrieved February 15, 2009, from http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/what_to_see/landmarks_and_memorials/esplanade.html
Uniquely Singapore - Merlion Park. (2009). Retrieved February 15, 2009, from http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/what_to_see/landmarks_and_memorials/merlion_park.html
Uniquely Singapore - Merlion Park. (2009). Retrieved February 15, 2009, from http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/what_to_see/landmarks_and_memorials/merlion_park.html
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