Principles for Making History Syllabus

The following are the broad principles that should be observed while making a selection of historical syllabus:

(i) The syllabus must meet the aims and objectives of teaching history.

(ii) The syllabus should be based on the present needs, requirements and the circumstances of the child. The child needs experiences more than instructions, i.e., the syllabus should be child oriented.

(iii) The syllabus should be community centred. Since the child is to be educated thorough the society in which he is born so the good of individual and good of society cannot be separated.

(iv) The syllabus should be based on the principle of integration. It means that the activities carried on in a school, should not be treated in water-tight compartments, but should be so con­ducted as to lead the whole child to a functional unity with the environment.

(v) The syllabus is framed on the principle of flexibility.

(vi) While framing the syllabus forward-looking principle should be kept in mind.

(vii) It should be broad based.

(viii) It should present an over all, balanced plan for growth in human relationship.

(ix) It should be tentative rather than final.

Contents of the history syllabus:

Here we give some positive and practicable suggestions about the contents of the history syllabus. Here these will be stated only in general terms without making any attempt to detail them for any particular age group.

If we look at the history syllabus being following in different countries, we find that these have been desired to meet the requirements of their own national outlook. In our own country we want to develop in our children a sense of appreciation of our cultural heritage and also to faster in them a world outlook. A balance has to be made between these two, i.e., the claims of our own society and the claim of world community.

The history syllabus in our schools should, therefore, be selected from the following fields:

(i) Early History:

It includes the history of man in Stone Age.

(ii) World History:

It is essential to understand the contributions of defeat paste to the development of human society. It includes the story of ancient civilisation, the origin and growth of great religions, life of middle ages, Renaissance and Reformation etc.

(iii) National History:

It should form the core of our history syllabus. To that core, the history of other peoples and civilisations must be organically related.

(iv) Local History:

It should form an important part of syllabus in history for the beginners.

(v) Social, Economical and Cultural History:

Topics selected for social economic and cultural history will supplement the pupil’s study in political history. Their emphasis on interdependence of people will generate a feeling of universal brotherhood among the pupils, so vitally essential for creating a world understanding.