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History Department
"Historians are
dangerous people. They are capable of upsetting
everything."(Nikita Khrushchev)
History is taught as a core subject in Our
Lady’s Secondary School from First to Third
year, and is one of the Leaving Certificate
subjects available to senior students. The study
of history enhances the development of the
individual; it promotes an open-minded approach,
an awareness of diversity, an understanding and
respect for people of other cultures, languages
and religions, and an appreciation of the
interdependence of nations.
The skills acquired by students studying history
include the development of critical thinking,
the ability to assemble convincing material to
develop an argument or point of view; the
ability to write; speak and think with clarity
and authority on many and varied topics.
At Leaving Certificate level the new syllabus in
history with its wide choice of topics provides
the student with the opportunity for wide
reading, information gathering, cogent reasoning
and sustained argument, clear essay writing,
research and the whole background to western
culture, politics and the human condition.
It is a balance to other subjects and a basis
from which other areas can develop - it is
interesting to note just how many figures in
public life, responsible positions, such as in
law, the media, in management and education have
qualifications which include history.
Methodology used in all classes from first to
sixth year is drawn from various sources; text
books, documents, specialist books, primary
material where available, videos, use of the
local library and the internet. Individual
research projects are a common feature of the
work in both first and fourth, and in the senior
classes. Class discussion is common to all
years, with lively exchanges of points of view.
The principle underlying the syllabus for
Leaving Certificate is that the study of History
should be regarded as an exploration of what
historians believed to have happened, based on
an enquiry into the available evidence.
‘The true use of history, is not to make man
clever for the next time, it is to make him wise
forever.’
Our Lady’s history tour to Berlin
In
December a group of thirty nine senior history
students from Mr. Kelly’s and Mrs Clerkin’s
history class had the opportunity of bringing
their history syllabus for leaving certificate
to life when they visited the historical German
city of Berlin from December 8th to
December 11th. After arriving on
Thursday afternoon December 8th the
students visited the Jewish Museum and where
they were divided into three groups and covered
key topics such as Jewish response to National
Socialism, the emergence of Jews in the modern
world and women in Judaism. After this the
students had the opportunity to get into the
festive spirit with a visit to the world
renowned Berlin Christmas markets. Friday began
with a visit to the former headquarters of the
SS the Topography of Terror before having a four
hour guided tour taking in the political,
economic and social history of the city taking
in features such as the Brandenburg Gate and
Berlin Wall. On Friday evening the students
ended an action packed day with a visit to the
German Parliament- the Reichstag before relaxing
with some ice skating! Saturday was also an
event filled day beginning with an eagerly
anticipated visit to Sacsenhausen
Concentration Camp which was used by Hitler and
the Nazi’s during World War 2. This was followed
by a visit to the Olympic Stadium were students
marvelled at the magnificent architecture and
history of this famous building. The history
activities ended with a visit to the Holocaust
Memorial. Before departing Berlin on Sunday the
students enjoyed an interesting and informative
visit to Stasi Prison used for holding political
prisoners during the Cold War period. On Sunday
evening a tired and weary group arrived home
safely to Castleblayney with many interesting
facts and additional knowledge that can be put
to good use in the months ahead as well as many
treasured memories that will last a lifetime.
Second Years on
their History Tour to The American Folk Park in
Omagh in March 2010
First Year
History Students have been very busy on their
history models
Transition Year's on their
History Tour to Derry
Our
Lady’s Visit to Berlin
In December a group
of thirty five senior history students from Mr.
Kelly’s history class had the opportunity of
bringing their history syllabus for leaving
certificate to life when they visited the
historical German city of Berlin from December 5th
to December 8th. After arriving on
Saturday 5th and relaxing with some
bowling the historical aspect to the tour began
in earnest on Sunday with an event packed
schedule. Sunday began with an eagerly
anticipated visit to Sacsenhausen concentration
camp which was used by Hitler and the Nazi’s
during World War 2, this was followed by visits
to the Olympic Stadium were students marvelled
at the magnificant architecture and history of
this building. On Sunday evening the students
enjoyed a visit to the German Reichstag while
some festive spirit was added as students had
the opportunity take in in the world renowned
Berlin Christmas markets. On Monday the students
had the pleasure of a four hour guided tour of
Berlin were they familiarised themselves with
the politcial, economic and social hisory of the
city. In the afternoon the students got a chance
to take in the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie
and the Brandenberg Gate before an interesting
visit to the Topography of Terror- the
headquarters of Hitler’s SS. Before returning
home on Tuesday the group enjoyed an informative
guide of the Jewish Museum and an opportunity to
witness the splendour of the Holocaust
Memorial. On Tuesday evening a tired and weary
group arrived home safely to Castleblayney with
many interesting facts and additional knowlede
that can be put to good use in the months ahead
as well as many treasured memories that will
last a lifetime.
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