Preserving pieces of history for generations to come

Times Reporter

 

Pieces of history could easily be lost as veterans begin to pass away if younger generations aren’t taught about the things that have made the world today what it is. 

One group is working hard to make sure the horrific acts against China by Japan are not forgotten and lost forever. 

“What it’s about is to make sure this part of history is not forgotten, and that’s what they’re trying to do,” said Rob Pirie, social studies teacher at Strathmore High School.

In the mid ‘90s a group of volunteers created the B.C. Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia, ALPHA. In 2004/2005 B.C. ALPHA began organizing the first Peace and Reconciliation Study Tour, which sends teachers to Asia to learn more about what took place. In 2008 Edmonton ALPHA began by sending two teachers on the study tour and this year they are sending five, including Pirie.

“I actually attended a conference sponsored by them in the fall that dealt with the whole issue of the so-called forgotten war,” said Pirie.

After attending the conference, which he found fascinating and moving Pirie thought it was an excellent opportunity which he should take advantage of. 

He had thought he had missed the deadline but later found out it had been extended, allowing him the opportunity to apply for the 2011 tour. Pirie said he likes being able to bring that first-hand experience back to his students and explain in detail what it is like there now. 

“It’s a fascinating part of human history. I can’t say it’s a pleasant part, but it is a fascinating part. If we don’t teach it, we forget about it. So what this organization is trying to do is to ensure it is taught,” said Pirie. 

“The big thing is these atrocities took place, we should be teaching about these atrocities, which I argue we do in this new curriculum. We do have much more of a global look at the world.”

Since 2004, more than six tours with 150 educators have taken place. The study tour goes to Shanghai, Beijing, Nanking and Harbin in China as well as Seoul, South Korea. 

ALPHA is trying to influence the students, influence what’s being taught by taking teachers over there to come back and tell their story. Pirie said China is still outraged with Japan because they have never admitted to what happened, undermining what took place. 

“One of the things we’re supposed to do is, we’re supposed to come back, and my role or my job is to not just teach my classroom…but pass it on to other teachers and to the community as a whole,” said Pirie. 

Before heading on the tour Pirie and the other participants have also had to take part in preparatory sessions before leaving.

The study tour takes place from July 13 to 28, though Pirie will be staying an extra day to tour the demilitarized zone, which is a strip of land that runs across the Korean Peninsula and serves as a buffer between North and South Korea. 

Pirie is looking forward to the tour in a sense, but not in the way that it will be fun. Instead he is looking forward to learning more about an important piece of history and being able to bring the experience back to his students.