Overview “No One Icon” Objective of Investigation Secondary Students’ Judgments of Research Methods Significant Representations of Singapore Main Findings Afterthoughts Syazwani Binte Amrun Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary) Objective of Investigation Research Methods Final Assignment Theory MAS 834, History Education: Teaching for Models of Significance Historical Understanding , Prof. Keith C. Christine Counsell (2004) Barton Robert Phillips (2002) ‘GREAT’ Five ‘R’s Concept of Significance Groundbreaking Youth’ ideas of Singapore Remarkable Remembered by all Remembered Events that were far Resonant reaching Resulting in change Affected the future Revealing Terrifying Research Methods Research Methods Research Question Procedures “What is an icon of Singapore today?” Semi-structured interview task What are the criteria that youth devised? In teams of 4s, students were asked to Setting and Participants choose, 10 cards from a set of 30 captioned 12 students from 3 different Year Three images typically used to represent Singapore classes. as icons today. People 7 Chinese 3 Malays 2 Indians Historical Landmarks All the students selected are Singapore Aspects of living aspects in Singapore citizens whilst two are Singapore Permanent Residents (PR). Students were interviewed after activity 1 The Merlion Esplanade- Theatres on the Bay Marina Bay Sands Singapore PSLE Hawker Centres Garden in the City Sir Thomas Stamford President Yusof Ishak Former PM Lee Kuan Yew Speaker Halimah Yacob 1st SG Idol Taufik Batisah President SR Nathan Raffles National Day Parades Singa, SKM Lion Meritocracy Pink Dot Rally, June 2013 General Election 2011 People’s Action Party (PAP) PM Lee Hsien Loong Civilian War Memorial National Service Orchard Rd & Shopping Changi Airport & Control SIA Stewardesses Tower Multiracial Society Sultan Mosque Thian Hock Keng Temple Main Findings 4 Themes 1. Importance to 3. Reflects HDB Public Housing Sri Mariamman Temple Armenian Church Singapore Singaporeans’ Way of Life 2. Uniqueness to 4. Popularity amongst people (locals & Singapore foreigners) 2 Main Findings Main Findings “Lee Kuan Yew 1. Importance to “Without Lee Kuan “Sorry Mr Nathan, was the first to Yew, Singapore yes you are the Singapore help develop would have died!” President but Lee Singapore as an Kuan Yew did so independent 1. Importance much more for nation” to Singapore Singapore!” “Changi Airport “Although there is the “Although Mdm is an icon of controversy with the Halimah Yacob is Singapore as it ‘Who’s the Founder of the first female is important for Singapore’ issue with Speaker, she is Singapore’s Raffles versus Farquhar not doing anything international and Crawfurd, Raffles is so important than standing.” the one who started the role of the everything.” Prime Minister.” Main Findings Main Findings Merlion is “like a 2. Uniqueness to Merlion is unique landmark of that’s why we see Singapore Singapore and so many Merlion there is no 2. Uniqueness to key chains, tshirts association with Singapore other countries.” etc sold at souvenir shops “No other SIA girl is also “Temples, mosques, airports in the an icon because churches cannot be world is called “the baju icons as not only ‘Changi’ or has kebaya is Singapore has a control tower unique. No other airline has them. Malaysia has that looks like that design.” them too.” this!” Main Findings Main Findings 2. Uniqueness to 3. Reflects Singapore Singaporeans’ Way of Life “What is unique about Singapore’s multiracial society is that Singapore is successful in getting the different races cohabit together peacefully, some other countries may have many different races together but they have not gotten them to cohabit peacefully whilst Singapore has managed to successfully achieved that.” 3 Main Findings Main Findings “Other countries like “If hawker centres are not icons of Malaysia also have Singapore, why was there the recent 4. Popularity amongst hawker centres but food challenge between the hawkers and people (locals & hawker centres are the international chef Gordon Ramsay?” foreigners) where many “HDB is an icon of Singaporeans go to 3. Reflects Singapore as majority of eat and it’s like a Singaporeans’ the people live in the flats common place to Way of Life and even if they do not, the gather.” flats dominate Singapore’s “it is like normal landscape such that it practice for parents becomes part of to have a long speech Singaporean’s way of life.” with their primary 6 child about the “Was told from Day 1 that her life and dangers if fail or don’t future is going to be determined by do well at PSLE.” this one exam in Primary 6. (PSLE)” Main Findings Afterthoughts “Nowadays “They got all the buildings “the National Day • 4 themes parallel with that of earlier models on Significance photos all around MBS to switch on Parade and all other focus on MBS lights every night for the concerts like the 1. Importance to “Affected the future”; and the lights show” Countdown Concert Singapore “Resonant” skyline” featured MBS as 4. Popularity amongst the backdrop. This people (locals & will only make 2. Uniqueness to “Remarkable” foreigners) people want to go Singapore “Taufik Batisah MBS more.” is not a “People know who he is. I 3. Reflects “it’s popular not ‘Resonant’ Singapore Icon do not think current PM Singaporeans’ Way of Life because of the ‘Revealing’ as he is not Lee Hsien Loong is an place people go famous like all icon of Singapore as for the arts, but the Hollywood ‘comparing him to his 4. Popularity amongst because of the “Remarkable” singers.” father, his father is people (locals & durians”. definitely more famous!” foreigners) Afterthoughts What is an icon of Singapore? “No One Icon” ♥ Recognised by both locals and foreigners Our take on how we see ♥ Need not be showy or expensive Singapore! ♥ Shows Singapore’s identity and what Singapore stands for ♥ Something that Singaporeans can be proud of Thank You! Questions please? ☺☺☺ ♥ Special value and meaning to citizens and people around the world 4.