History

Mr. Mark Durston - e Headmaster and Teacher of History

Mr. Joseph Njuguna - Teacher of History

Mr. Jimmy Carter Ogodo - Dean of Study and Teacher of History e Far East destinations proved to be a marvel to behold. Breath taking sites and hiking from cruise ship in Halong Bay to the dazzling architectural masterpiece temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia built at the 14th Century provided a spectacle of beauty, wonder, and magni cence to behold. e 28 strong team of travellers accompanied by Ms. Nightingale, Mr Strain and myself-Mr. Ogodo enjoyed mouth-watering dishes of local cuisines in some of the nest restaurants with a balance of inviting fast food meals. A tri cycle ride along the streets of Hanoi ensured we seamlessly interacted with the locals as the fresh evening aura of Hanoi welcomed us into the city. e opportunities to shop despite the harsh economic times in Ho Chi Minh city, Siem Reap and Dubai left us dragging luggage stocked with souvenirs, out ts and snacks for our loved ones back at home. Adrenaline rush roller coasters amidst exciting and adventurous activities at the Ferari World in Abu Dhabi left us clamouring for more.

Many people study History in high school and come away thinking it’s boring, irrelevant, or both. But as we get older, even just by a few years, we start to see the importance of understanding the past. When it comes to the possibilities of 'learning from history' there are doubtless many things we could aspire to learn. Some of those would be more practically useful, in terms of contributing to the normal and decent functioning of well-meaning societies than others. Events in the past have displaced families and groups, changing the makeup of regions and often causing tensions. Such events have also created government systems that have lasted generations beyond when they started. And all of it a ects each person alive today.

Studying History helps us understand how events in the past made things the way they are today. With lessons from the past, we not only learn about ourselves and how we came to be, but also develop the ability to avoid mistakes and create better paths for our societies.

From a broad-spectrum of 19th and 20th Century History, the CIE syllabus allow teachers to choose a range of thematic areas for study with a dominance of European and American History at both the IGCSE and GCE AS and A2 Levels. Pupils have enjoyed discussions focusing on the analysis and evaluation of the causes of World Wars 1 and II, the Rise of the Nazis and Holocaust, the Origin, Development and End of the Cold War, the Russian Civil War, Treaty of Versailles, Success and Failure of the League of Nations and World dictators.

It is with hindsight to the above that we embarked on a memorable and exciting post Covid-19 History and Religious Studies trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and United Arab Emirates. At the mention of the rst two nations, a glooming and regretfully, dark historical past hang in the air. Intentionally, we tend to be subjective and judge them as nations that are lagging behind on the socio-political and economic aspects of growth.

What we don’t know and see is that, the present political leadership of these nations have used the “dark past” to market the countries and generate revenues that have enhanced their economic growth.

Despite the numerous opportunities to enjoy, the trip also brought to us the harsh realities of American involvement in the Vietnam war. A visit to the Cu Chi Site in Ho Chi Mihn led us to an adventurous experience of the underground hide-outs and homes for Viet Cong ghters against heavy airstrike shelling from the Americans modern ghter jets and helicopters. Our spirits were further dampened and underpinned by a sense of grief and melancholy, from the narrations of our tour guide depicting cruelty of Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot regime, which massacred over 2 million people in just three years in the killing elds of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 2 days earlier, we had met Aki Ra, the founder of the Cambodian Landmine Museum. We also heard from a former rogue soldier, who had dedicated his life to clearing thousands of landmines planted in Cambodia.

Back home, the 2nd local History eld enquiry study trip for our Shell pupils to Voi, Tsavo and Maktau in the Taita Taveta County was a super success. It was worthwhile to let our young ones discover how the Great War found its way into Kenya and Tanzania despite the locals knowing nothing about its causes miles away in Europe. Saltlick Lodge provided a breath taking ambience and meals needed after a hectic day under intense tropical heat in the eld.