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The Government has recently decided to make history a compulsory
subject for the Ordinary Level Examination and the children who study
local subjects in Government and international schools are thereby
encouraged to learn it.
It can really be treated as a good decision taken by the Government.
In the past, politicians have stated from time to time that the
younger generation would not be able to keep up with the modern world by
learning arts subjects like history and geography.
It is obvious from their statements that they have come to such
conclusions, thinking in terms of the monetary value of such subjects.
However, these opinions seem to be deeply ingrained in the minds of
schoolchildren today as well.
But, we can’t get away from the fact that the aim of education is to
produce disciplined and law-abiding citizens who will be able to take up
the social responsibility and leadership in the future.
It also helps them to think in terms of all aspects of development
e.g. - politically, economically, culturally and socially.
As far as the advantages of learning history are concerned, it is
said that people can get a clear understanding about society as well as
the world where they live in.
It helps us to understand our national identity; respect for others
and to be tolerant of various ideologies.
According to Charles Rollins, “It describes vice; it unmasks false
virtues; it exposes errors and prejudices.
There is a long list of definitions of history when it comes to
understanding its advantages.
When speaking about the necessity of learning history, one Grade
eight girl student replied that she was really fed up with learning it
which is replete with ‘murders and battles’. There are many such
prejudices that stand in the way of learning it.
However, I am of the opinion that such misconceptions have to be
removed from the students by teachers, so that the children can be
optimistic.
It need hardly be said that there are some problems that the teachers
are faced with, when they are going to teach history.
The Sinhala medium history text books for Grade 10, recommended for
students are different from the English medium books.
To say the least, the Sinhala medium books are more comprehensive.
One Grade 10 student told me that his history teacher uses the Sinhala
medium book to teach English medium students in his school.
Having gone through these two books, I observed that students’
activities and exercises are also different from each other.
If the authorities look into these problems to rectify these defects
in future, then it will be beneficial for the children and teachers who
are involved in learning and teaching history.
R. SOMASIRI - Pannipitiya
I wonder what these bogus human rights activists have to say about
the latest carnage?
These vultures sing hosannas for the terrorists but ignore the
sufferings of the innocent people of this country; they shouted
themselves hoarse when the authorities a few months back tried to send
some Tiger suspects who could not give any valid reason for being in
Colombo at the time, back to their villages in the North, but what has
happened now?
They have come back and started unleashing terror again on innocent
civilians.
These human rights vultures and media supporters conveniently ignore
their heinous crimes as they are mortally scared of losing the dollars,
but it is the victims of such brutal acts who have to suffer in silence.
They could not care less as they thrive on the sufferings of the poor
civilians. The majority of the victims of the Nugegoda blast were below
25 years of age, in the prime of their youth, but who cares?
My neighbour lost his only daughter, just 23 years of age, a
beautiful girl in the flower of her youth with a whole future ahead of
her, but does anybody care, it is the parents and the close relatives
who have to bear the pain and agony for the rest of their lives.
Whatever material gain the parents get out of this, can that
compensate for the loss of a dearly beloved daughter?
My heart goes out to the relatives of the other victims too, but we
are helpless at the hands of this cruel murderer.
What is most heart rending is her father is a cancer patient.
I feel particularly sad for this poor girl who was so full of life,
cheerful inspite of her father’s illness, and it is ironical that the
very day she kept her date with her destiny she had got the results
indicating her success at the Part 01 of the Degree exam. How
unfortunate.
It is time for the human rights vultures and the Western powers who
defend this murderous gang, to seriously think whether they will allow
this blood thirsty megalomaniac to spill anymore innocent blood.
U.N. NANAYAKKARA – Gampaha
Wimal Gunawardene, USA has pointed out something that struck me too.
The robes of Buddhist monks are of different colours, textures and
styles. Bhikkus of yesteryear gave Dhamma talks that were erudite too,
but did not draw attention to their attire.
My humble plea - Venerable Sirs, be simple and conventional. The
yellow robe if worn simply would not have been commented upon by Wimal
G., unless he noticed the new trend of ‘unconventional’ robe styles.
D. SUGALA – Nawala
“To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts, is a great step
to knowledge” - Sir Benjamin Disraeli
A very noteworthy saying by the late Earl of Beaconsfield and Prime
Minister of Great Britain, whose philosophy I advocate, one that has
stood me in good stead in all my endeavours.
Although my knowledge (literally) would not increase by asking this
very pertinent question, I fail to comprehend the logic behind the
organisers not including an award for the best hotel school,
institutions which have contributed in no small measure to the industry.
The Chairman Panel of Judges, who was a member of our team which
organised the Royal Millennium March 1999, could and would, I hope,
enlighten me further on this very conspicuous anomaly.
WASANTHKUMAR PERERA - Award Winner, Entrepreneur of the Year 1996 -
Service Micro Category (Hotel School)
Bus fares have been increased and this news was conveyed through the
media recently.
But the increased amount is so little that the passenger doesn’t feel
it to his or her pocket.
But the problem is bus conductors who cheat the passengers by not
giving the balance of one rupee, or even ‘the two rupees’ will find it
‘a good opportunity’ to earn extra money through this ‘increased amount
of bus fares’ because most bus passengers will not ask their balance of
50 cents, one rupee or even two rupees.
H. L. SUNIL SHANTHA – Kalutara
The 87th birthday of maestro Chitrasena fell on January 26, and I
would like to record one or two anecdotes in his life. By the way, our
social evils, which are contrary to Buddhism, should not be swept under
the carpet but exposed for remedial action.
Chitrasena had to associate with the Nakethi caste to learn
particularly the Kandyan dance.
The high caste people began to scold him, saying that by his
associating with the ‘untouchables’, he was demeaning the high castes,
by bringing the latter to disrepute. Chitrasena explained as follows:
The Nakethi caste people, in addition to being dancers, are
astrologers, drummers and conductors of ‘pooja’ in temples.
In other words, they perform the duties of Brahmins in India.
Moreover, there were two essential outsiders in the palaces of kings,
viz: a court jester and an astrologer, the latter of whom invariably was
a man from the Nakethi caste.
Therefore, I cannot understand how the Nakethi caste people came to
be considered as ‘untouchables’. In fact, the mistress of the second
Governor of Ceylon Sir Thomas Maitland, Lavinia Aponsuva who gave her
name to Galkissa, to be called Mt. Lavinia in English, belonged to the
Nakethi caste.
It is a pity that the legislative enactment, Prevention of Social
Disabilities Act No. 21 of 1957, has not helped the ‘low castes’ to
regain their equal status as ‘homo sapiens’.
PUNCHISINGHO - Mt. Lavinia
Having exposed the lethargy prevailing at the Thimbirigasyaya
Divisional Secretariat (Pension branch) through my letter under the
caption ‘Lethargic State sector is not incurable’ (DN Jan. 14) please
permit me to offer a bouquet to the Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Divisional
Secretariat, Finance branch for their unbelievably efficient
performance.
Shortly before our last pay day, December 10 my pension file was
transferred from Thimbirigasyaya to Kotte depriving my pension on the
due date.
When I contacted Divisional Secretariat Kotte, I was requested to
attend that office, which I did on December 11.
To my astonishment, my new bank account number was instantly recorded
and my pension for December was paid by cheque within 30 minutes.
A simple task which the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat failed
to perform for five months, the Kotte Divisional Secretariat executed in
a few minutes.
This incident goes to prove that there exist admirably efficient
officers in the State sector, among a lethargic majority.
G.G.J. - Kotte
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