Humanities

History

What is History? When asked, the loquacious students of 7 Jerome replied “the past.” A pause, then — “something old” “it can tell a story, or many stories” “it can show us cultures, new and old” “sometimes it’s a myth” “it can tell about wars” “about what has changed and what hasn’t” “History can be five years ago or five thousand” “It can tell us why” “We use evidence to find answers” “It is connected to our identity” “History created us” Students at each year level are engaged in studying history, whether making models from ancient Egypt, researching past lives in medieval times, asking how aborigines have fought for equal rights, asking what young Australians have fought for in our modern wars, meeting with Holocaust survivors from Nazi occupied Europe, interviewing Australian Vietnam War Veterans, or investigating why revolutions have occurred and what new societies have been created. According to Matthew Northage (7 Jerome), “a citizen of the world should study History because it is very valuable to learn about what made us, us. History is also fun to learn if you love learning.” Learning History at De La Salle can give students knowledge and skills and confidence to understand themselves and the world. Mr Chris Fleming In October Year 10 History classes journeyed to the Jewish Holocaust and Research Centre in Elsternwick. There the boys heard the testimony of Holocaust survivors and examined photographs and personal effects and records of those who were persecuted. “After hearing the account from John, I felt true sorrow for his experiences and at the same time I felt lucky to be who I am. To hear his troubles made me see mine as truly insignificant. At the museum there was a picture of three men being tortured...one of the men being tortured now lives in New York as a successful writer. I find it inspiring to see such human courage and strength in the face of that evil. The survivors would wish us to live a life of no hate. They told us that people all have red blood and are mostly the same. And that hate is a disease, a sickness not to bear.” Xavier Fitzgerald “The Jews are forever grateful to the Allies for rescuing them from the Nazi death camps. The woman, Kitty, told us never to be a perpetrator, never be a victim and never be a bystander. Believe in the power of one.” Stefan Nowak

Year 7 History

Our Egyptologists in 7 Vincent are seen here engrossed in the process of mummification. Each student was assigned a role to play, and the boys groaned as the internal organs were removed and placed in canopic jars. Of great interest were the anointing and refilling of the abdominal cavity. After this, boys wearing a mask of a god recited the prayers of the dead while the body (our doll in this case) was wrapped and placed in the sarcophagus. According to Egyptian teaching, the boys, having prepared the body well, were sure it wouId enjoy a good afterlife.

Geography

For another year Geography has been at the forefront of our day-to-day existence. Almost every day the media had been regaling us with news and opinions on the latest trends in climate change, alternative energy sources, the drought and resource use. In addition, there have been strong earthquakes and powerful volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, hurricanes and cyclones, floods. It is truly amazing how our natural environment impacts on the activities of people. On the other hand, people are themselves capable of inflicting great change on the natural environment, some of which changes may have quite negative consequences for the environment. We live and breathe geography, even if we are not always aware of it. The Year 11 geographers spent this year studying many of these very factors. In Unit 1, they made an intensive study of how natural processes shape our coastlines and how people may then modify them, and how the characteristics of the earth’s atmosphere are established and changed over time by nature and human activities. A day in the field gave the students a great opportunity to see the environment in action. In Unit 2, the geographers studied environments largely developed by humans, beginning with the development of urban areas or cities with specific reference to Melbourne, and concluding with a study of the agricultural region of the Yarra Valley. Again, fieldwork gave the students a chance to appreciate the detailed characteristics of inner Melbourne. The Year 10 geographers studied the structure of the Earth and the phenomena of plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes – processes with create the broad landscape of the world. They concluded with a study of rivers and streams which provide one of the main processes for fine tuning the landscapes in which we live. The course culminated with a great day of fieldwork in the Bacchus Marsh area where the students appreciated how all the processes studied come together to create interesting and often beautiful geographical phenomena. All of this knowledge creates young men who are better equipped to deal with future changes to their environment. It gives them the knowledge to be able to argue for alternative sources of energy, the need to reduce greenhouse gas emission, the need to plan our cities carefully so that our living and working environment is not degraded. The world needs conservationists...the world needs geographers!! Mr Doug Esler Year 9 Geographers we have been studying water and methods we can employ in order to save it. We were instructed to conduct surveys around our houses in order to find out how much water we actually use and then apply this knowledge in order to save it. This year’s Geography course has been a real eyeopener, and has challenged and inspired many boys to commit themselves to securing our country’s future in water management. It was truly amazing to discover how so many little things can affect our storage levels. Little things such as brushing your teeth without having the tap running or limiting your time in the shower can save lots of water. This term’s work has led me to believe no one should ignore the issue of water, and there should be zero tolerance for those who waste it. Michael Badrock

Year 9 Vincent historians, visiting the Shrine of Remembrance, ponder the realities of war.