What August 17 means

Simon Marcus Gower, Executive Principal, High/Scope Indonesia, Jakarta

What does Independence Day mean to you? A simple but a hugely important question; but sadly this simple question too often gets a pitiful and really rather simplistic answer. An answer often comes that does not speak of the great significance of Independence Day and the remarkable history which it represents, but instead speaks of this great day as representing little more than a carnival.

Across the country, Indonesia celebrates its birth as a nation and that is reasonable and right -- but perhaps the idea of celebration has been taken a little too far. Independence Day should also be commemorated as a mark of respect for the powerful history and unique events that it represents.

That question of the meaning of Independence Day, when asked in schools here is usually responded to in a way that should give us pause for thought and cause to reconsider how many people look upon this day, not with pride, honor and respect but instead as a reason to fool around in childish ways.

"Yeah, I like Independence Day because it means that we don't have normal classes in school." "It is good fun, we play lots of games." "Last year, in school, we played many team games and my class was the champions." These are just some of the comments that may be collected from Indonesian classrooms. Of course, it is reasonable to have fun, but what about the history that goes with this special day?

Ask about that rather blurry photograph of Indonesia's first President seen standing at the microphone reading his text to Indonesia's Proclamation of Independence and the response becomes quite different. Comments such as "Yes, right, that's important I know, but that's boring for me. Who is interested in that really?" are quite often the unfortunate kinds of response.

A comment such as this is most likely not really intended to be disrespectful or dismissive of the significance of that quite remarkable photograph of Sukarno, looking almost radiant in his white suit, as he seemingly carefully reads the text to the small assembled crowd all those 58 years ago.

However, though the intention may not have directly been to be disrespectful or insulting, the underlying thinking that would allow a teenager to dismiss such critical events in Indonesian history as "boring" has to be viewed as worthy of educators' attention.

Some educators attempt to justify and support the playing of games not just on a team-building level but also on the level of suggestion that these games are already a "tradition" in Indonesian life and culture. The suggestion of these games being "traditional" raises questions and doubts.

It is possible to have both good and bad traditions. Whilst it probably would not be fair to slam game playing entirely on Independence Day as being a bad tradition, it would be fair to condone and promote the balance between having fun and learning.

Presently it seems all too easy for the vitality and worthiness of the story of Indonesia's struggle for, and success in, achieving independence to be a message almost entirely lost for schoolchildren.

All this is not to suggest that schools need to go down the road of militaristic regimentation of students. Sometimes when parades and flag ceremonies and saluting the flag are implemented in schools they can be as meaningless as the sometimes foolish game playing.

Children that are, in a lackadaisical manner, holding their hands to their foreheads in a vague and even fake salute to the flag, are not really learning or gaining any sense of inspiration. Learning of and being inspired by history are high ideals indeed but they must surely be at the top of schools' agenda.

The sense of community and belonging that comes from the games is good but honoring the history should not be overlooked. After all, many Indonesians paid the ultimate price, giving up their lives, so that the today may enjoy a free spirit.

The saying "if you do not understand your past, then you live with the danger of having no future" applies here. For Indonesia to enjoy a brighter future, appreciation of its past is extremely important. And there can surely be no more appropriate place for appreciation of the past and planning for the future to take place than in schools. So let us both celebrate and, importantly, commemorate.