MY TWO primary school children and I love to read books about
ordinary people of good character who contribute to society. But
there are hardly any age-appropriate books in libraries or
bookshops for children to read about ordinary, upstanding
Singaporeans.
We read or hear about them only when books or reviews are
published - and only in adult versions.
Primary school pupils learn and hear about war heroine Elizabeth
Choy, her work and suffering from a handful of pages, and only
during their school years. There should also be more coverage and a
few more pages on Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew for school
children.
History-wealthy nations like the United States are awash with
publications for different age groups. For instance, books and
biographies on Martin Luther King, whose civil rights movement
changed American history, and Harriet Tubman, a slave who risked
her life to help others, are aplenty for all age groups.
The children's section of local bookshops and libraries have so
many more heroes and heroines of foreign countries than of
Singaporeans.
When children have little or no access to Singapore stories and
ordinary folk's lives through books, is it any surprise that they
do not identify with the heartland as they are more exposed to
people of other countries?
It is good that through social studies in school, children are
exposed to Singapore history. It will be a lot better if stories of
Singapore heroes and ordinary folk for children are aplenty in the
form of books.
Amanda Kwan (Madam)
