The first part of the book contains documentation of a groundbreaking exhibition held in 2007 on student activities and societal engagements during post-war Singapore 1945–1965 and transcripts of forums held in conjunction with it. The second half centres on oral history accounts of mostly former Chinese school students who shared about their social, cultural and political activities in complex but exciting times.
Education-at-large broadens our understanding of Singapore's educational history in the transitional period between the end of the Second World War and the country's independence; examines the ways in which student activities and activism resonated with, and contributed to, the country's wider social, political and cultural life, as well as the decolonisation process; and stimulates debates about Chinese education and student activism in Singapore.
Contents:Forum Documentation:A Bilingual Forum: Inhabiting Two Different Worlds — Dialogue Between Han Tan Juan and Koh Tai AnnMy Project Work ExperienceMy Thoughts on Participating in the Exhibition “Education at Large: Student Life and Activities in Singapore, 1945–1965”Some Thoughts on the “Education-at-Large” ExhibitionPerspectives in Student Movement ResearchA Very Brief History of Idealism in SingaporeA Historical Account of the Chinese Book Industry in the 1950s to the 1960sOral History:Brief Biographies of the IntervieweesYouthful Wanderings amidst Student Movements — An Interview with Lim Chin JooTransfer to Chinese School — Taking a Different Road — An Interview with Tan Kok ChiangThose Organised and Unorganised Times of Youth — An Interview with Chen Mong Tse and Chai Chu ChunObservation as Historical Participation — An Interview with Lee Leong SengGrowing Up with Literacy Classes — An Interview with Tan Teck KengThe Sojourns of a Village Youth — An Interview with Chua Hiang YongAppendix:The Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union: A Lost Echo of an EraThoughts of Exhibition VisitorsParticipating SchoolsEditors' Notes: A Collective Imagery of Youth in the Island-StateAbout the EditorsOrganising Committee / The Tangent Committee
Readership: Students and the general public who are interested to understand the social, cultural and political activities of students during post-war Singapore 1945–1965.