Options
How humanities teachers understand and teach patriotism in Singapore
Author
Chua, Shuyi
Supervisor
Sim, Jasmine Boon-Yee
Abstract
Patriotism is commonly understood as love for the nation. This love is, however, expressed differently by individuals. We know little about how teachers understand and teach patriotism. This qualitative case study explores, through interviews and classroom observations, how four humanities teachers from Singapore understand and teach patriotism. This study is significant because patriotism is an important national value in Singapore, yet we know little about how teachers understand this contested term and instill it in their students. While each teacher understood patriotism and its relationship to citizenship uniquely, points of common understanding between the teachers exist. Specifically, the teachers agreed that patriotism was a love expressed in action. Patriotism as a social construct emerged as a major theme in teachers’ understandings, though the teachers’ definition and description of the expressions of patriotism differed. In addition, teachers did not see patriotism as a blind loyalty to the government, though not all were able to convey this through their lessons. The teachers’ personal understandings and experiences were key factors in how they conducted their lessons and taught patriotism in the class.
Date Issued
2015
Call Number
LC1091 Chu
Date Submitted
2015