Experts hail rounding out of history textbooks<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two observers have supported the plan to revise
\nschool history textbooks, arguing it will help students put
\nrecent tumultuous changes in the country into perspective.<\/p>\n
University of Indonesia sociologist Paulus Wirutomo and head
\nof the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Soefjan Tsauri
\nseparately agreed that the revision endorsed by the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture was needed following recent developments in
\nthe social, economic and political spheres.<\/p>\n
\"Students must be given an objective view about history
\nbecause there have been huge social changes here,\" Paulus said.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, it is important to introduce students to the logic
\nof history. In this part, teachers will play significant roles as
\nthey can present a proportional view of history.\"<\/p>\n
History is a process, he said, and the current changes have
\ncreated confusion among students because they suddenly received
\ndifferent versions of historical events which diverged from rigid
\ntraditional teachings under the 32-year Soeharto regime.<\/p>\n
\"In the New Order era, history was engineered, and became 'the
\nwhole truth', by (the ruling grouping Golkar). For instance,
\n(former president) Soeharto was described as a hero. That's it,
\nno other explanations, and students have swallowed that for
\nyears.<\/p>\n
\"Suddenly, the regime of Soeharto, collapsed. Now what has
\nhappened? Many controversies emerged, and many 'shocking' and
\nbold information has been released. Many students are left in the
\ndark here.\"<\/p>\n
Students must be taught to see that history has various
\ndimensions, from power to politics, so they can become wise in
\nunderstanding the past, Paulus added.<\/p>\n
Soefjan shared a similar opinion.<\/p>\n
\"Information runs very fast these days. We have to be wise and
\ncareful in responding to the changes.<\/p>\n
\"Students need to be given new ways in studying history,\"
\nSoefjan said on Thursday after a meeting with President B.J.
\nHabibie in the office of the Agency for Assessment and
\nApplication of Technology.<\/p>\n
Therefore, he said, the revision of history study must be done
\nby historians in cooperation with related ministries.<\/p>\n
Paulus said the review must be done by independent and
\nrespected intellectuals.<\/p>\n
\"It is also important to 'educate' the teachers through
\ndiscussion on how to give additional information to students.
\nBecause the teachers' explanation can become a source of
\nconfusion to the children.\"<\/p>\n
Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono said on
\nThursday that teachers and school principals have reached an
\nagreement to give additional \"proportional information\" on
\nnational history for the next two years.<\/p>\n
Among the subjects to be added to the history curriculum were
\nthe students' movements in the late 1990s, including the May 12,
\n1998, shooting of Trisakti University students which triggered
\nmassive unrest that led to Soeharto's fall, and the July 27th,
\n1996, incident when an attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) headquarters sparked rioting and vandalism in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Educator Drost S.J. disagreed with the idea of putting
\nadditional subjects into history lesson.<\/p>\n
\"There are two reasons. First, because the curriculum is
\nalready burdensome to students.<\/p>\n
\"Second, I think all of these recent incidents, such as
\nstudent movements were momentous and emotional, so it is too soon
\nto consider it part of history,\" he told The Jakarta Post on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
According to Drost, history is the result of past incidents
\nwhich have been investigated and analyzed scientifically.<\/p>\n
\"Recent allegations emerging about the 1965 coup of (the
\noutlawed) Indonesian Communist Party, for instance, could not be
\nconsidered as part of history lesson. Papers and TV shows
\npresented the controversy, but the main incident has not been
\nthoroughly restudied yet.<\/p>\n
\"Such recent incidents actually must be given as part of
\nsociology or state administration lessons, not history, because
\nthe economic and political issues are still changing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Juwono said on Thursday the study of history was continuing as
\nusual. \"We could not just stop giving lessons and withdraw
\nmillions of history books. Therefore, the teachers must be ready
\nto give extra explanation.\"<\/p>\n
Juwono also said Soeharto's resignation on May 21 would be
\nincluded as additional history information. (edt)<\/p>",
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