What August 17 means

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.