ABSTRACT
This study examined, the effects of
Archives and Museum
in the teaching of History in the selected Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State. The study posses four (4) basic research
questions centred on the problem of history teaching and learning in
the secondary schools. The
study has also high-lighted the role museum and Archives can play
in improving the performance of the students in history. It has also discussed
the teacher – student relationship and how it affects the learning and teaching
of history in Nigeria
schools, it has also stressed how Museums and Archives can
influence students’ acceptability of learning history as a subject. The
research question and the interview conducted were discussed
qualitatively. The result of the findings
reveals that policy makers have either purposely, accidentally left out the
study of history in the secondary school syllabus. It was also revealed that
most schools have never visited any Museum or use Archive to teach history in
their schools. The study discusses the nature and value of Museums and Archives
and in the study of history. The concluding chapter made suggestion for the
study of history in all schools. A careful examination of the suggestions, can
draw the attention of students to the value of Museums and Archives in the
teaching of local history in the secondary schools in Lagos
State and Nigeria generality.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
Title
Page i
Certification
ii
Dedication
iii
Acknowledgement
iv
Table
of Contents v
Abstract
vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study 1
Statement
of the Problem 6
Purpose
of the Study 7
Research
Questions 7
Significance
of the Study 8
Scope
of the Study 9
Definition
of Terms 10
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE
Introduction
11
Why study History 11
The role of Archives in the Society 12
The importance of Museums 17
Studies relating to the Educational
Significance of Archives and
Museums in History Teaching 19
New Evolution Resources for Primary
and Secondary Schools 22
Summary 23
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES
Preamble
24
Research
Design 24
Population
25
Sample
and Sampling Procedures 25
Research
Instrument 26
Administration of the Instrument 27
Methods of Data Collection 27
Method
of Data Analysis 28
Limitation of the Methodology 29
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS
AND RESULTS
Preamble 30
Presentation and Analysis of Data 30
Discussion of Findings 38
Conclusion 41
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION
Introduction 42
Summary
42
Discussion
of Findings 43
Recommendations 44
Conclusion 46
Implications
of Findings for Future Studies 46
References 48
Appendix
50
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
One may be forced to ask a question such
as: why do we consider archives and museums so significant in the teaching and
learning of history? It is because of some problems in teaching the subject in
such a way that students would learn more easily about their cultural heritage,
and also to appreciate it. History should be taught in such a way to, encourage
students to appreciate the value of heritage and the need to take cognizance of
it.
Although, history reveals that
archives and museums have been established in Nigeria since the early 1950s, it
is only used at the tertiary levels. It has not been utilized in secondary
institution for the teaching of history. The use of Museums and Archives would
have been employed to restore back the study of history to the original pride
of place, Anah (2006).
Furthermore, Museums and archives
help to reduce ignorance about history and improves mans thinking and horizon, about
the events of the post. James (2001) notes that history as a subject gives
student basic knowledge about the importance of antiquities, images,
structures, historical statues of both the contemporary and renaissance
personalities in history.
History education is the stability of
life experience that people acquire, which enable them to cope and to make a
conducive resolution about the past and the present challenges confronting the
people of the world. This is because it enables them to achieve historical
knowledge, and enhance their individual development.
The availability of Archives and
Museums and their utilization constitute the lifeline of the teaching and
learning of History in the Nigeria
educational system. Among all the educational problems facing all states of Nigeria including Lagos
State, none is as persistent as the
problem of Archives and Museums in the teaching and learning of History in the
educational institutions in Nigeria
(Joshua, 1995)
The poor performance of secondary
school students in the History subject has been attributed mostly to the
problem of teaching resources and quality of teachers. It is either that the
resources are in short supply or not available in some schools. While in some
schools, the problem is that of shortage of teachers and if the problem is nor
arrested the future of history as a subject in Nigerian schools in very black.
Before teachers are posted to
schools, they must have been exposed to sound intellectual and professional
training. The quality of the teachers to a great extent will dictate their
efficiency and productivity in their work.
The number of teachers in the school depends
on the availability of teachers. Teacher need to be well trained in their
subject areas, for efficient performance. Teachers are in history must be well
trained in the techniques of history for effective performance; and learning
resources include: books, stationeries, Archives and Museums, laboratories
Library and machineries. The teaching materials provided, and made available to
the teachers, and for the achievement of educational objectives.
The success of the history as a
subject in the education system depends on the availability of the above
resources Without them, it will be very
difficult to achieve to achieve success in history in the Nigeria educational
system. For this reason, there is a need for an antiquity or object of
remembrance that can link the past with the present – an archive or a museum.
An archive is a place where people can go to gather firsthand
facts, data, and evidence from letters, reports, notes, memos, photographs, and
other primary sources.
Private organizations, government
organizations, families and individuals create and acquire documents in the
course of their business or personal activities all the time. Archives
are those documents which no longer have an everyday use, yet have been kept
because of their historical value.
It is what we call 'primary
evidence' - the raw material used by all kinds of researchers to find out about
the past (as opposed to ‘secondary evidence’ which refers to books that may
have been written using the information found in the archives).
It was well developed by the ancient Chinese, the ancient
Greeks, and ancient Romans (who called them Tabularia).
However, they have been lost, since documents were written on organic materials
like papyrus and paper. On the contrary, many
archives founded since Middle Age by churches, kingdoms and cities survive and
often have kept their official status uninterruptedly till now. They are the
basic tool for historical research on these ages.
Historians, genealogists,
lawyers, demographers, filmmakers, and
others conduct research at archives. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archive
- cite_note-11 The
research process at each archive is unique, and depends upon the institution
that houses the archive.
Archives are
created by many different groups, namely:
·
Families
·
Individuals
·
Businesses
And Industry
·
Churches
·
Schools
·
Charities
·
Government
Departments
·
Councils
Most documents are written on either
paper or parchment (which is made from the skin of animals). However,
they may also be in electronic format. For example, e-mails and
word-processed documents on your computer are just as much part of an archive
today as paper documents are.
Archives can come in many different
formats:
Archives are sometimes referred to as ‘records’ but the
latter is more accurately used to describe documents that are still in current
use. Many keep archives for some reasons which include:
1.
To learn about the past
2.
To help us understand who we are and how we came to
be the way we are – both as a community and as individuals.
3.
For evidential reasons
4. Wills
are kept as proof of inheritance
5
Title
deeds as proof of ownership of land or of mineral rights
6 Registers
of births, marriages and deaths are kept as evidence of our identity and are
needed for a whole range of purposes from passports to pensions
7
Maps
and plans might be used to identify contaminated land or old mines that could
cause building subsidence.
8
For education and
learning
9
For personal reasons that
affect individuals’ lives today
10 It contributes to
accountability in government. (source: goggle.
Com ).
A museum is an institution which
collects, documents, preserves, exhibits and interprets material evidence and
associated information for the public benefit'. (Erdberg 2006).
It is
a building, place or institution devoted to the acquisition, conservation,
study, exhibition and educational interpretation of objects having scientific,
historical or artistic value. Museums collect and care for objects of
scientific, artistic or historical importance and make them available for
public viewing – through exhibits that may be part of the permanent collection
or through temporary exhibits. (Erdberg 2006).
Many people explore collections for
inspiration, learning and enjoyment. Archives and Museums are institutions that
collect, safeguard and make accessible artifacts and specimens, which they hold
in trust for society.' Museums can be said to ‘bring the past to life’ and are
fantastic representations of the different periods of our cultural history.
They enable visitors to touch, feel, see, hear, experience and smell the past.
Many museums now offer a programme of events for different groups e.g.
families, under fives etc. This is in contrast to the early museums which
mainly catered for adult audiences. As useful and important archives and
museums are, many are yet to fully utilize its potential to the fullest to affect
lives maybe due to its unavailability or the primitive thinking of our people.
The inadequacy of Archives and
Museums in the teaching and learning of history in our secondary schools need
to be addressed. It is only when this is done that the nation can have trained,
knowledgeable and dedicated citizens in different professions. Also, with the
availability of Archives and Museums in our schools, the problem of falling
standard will become a thing of the pasts
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
The focus of this study is on the
necessity and usefulness of Archives and Museums in the teaching and learning
of history in secondary schools in Lagos
State. The
problem of this study therefore is to investigate into the necessity and effect of Archives and
Museums in the teaching and learning of history in secondary schools in Lagos State. Our
school administrators or principals seem to be ignorant of this fact by the way
they take history subject with loose hands. In the whole state, students pay
PTA levy on yearly basis for the purpose of getting relevance facilities and
materials essential for the school better performance in all the subjects. The
ignorance (or better still, negligence) of the school administrators over this
issue constitutes the problem of this study. Moreover, the standard guide
policies have not been properly followed in the implementation of school
teaching facility.
There
are inadequate tools and materials to work with, many school buildings are
dilapidated and nobody cares, many of the buildings do not have doors, windows
and nobody takes care of the sinking toilets, etc. The above inadequacies
constitute the problem the research is determined to investigate and find out
their impact on the academic performance.
Archives
and Museums, its usefulness, effects and efficiency, purpose and achievement
are all part of the statement of this research problem. It is an area in which
generation coming after could benefit from, its contribution and profiles will
form an important aspect of this research.
1.3 Purpose
of the Study
This research work is to investigate
the importance or relevance of Museums and Archives in the teaching of history
in the Nigerian secondary schools and the performance of students in history
education in some selected schools of Onike
Junior Girls
High School in Lagos State
and the specific purpose are to:
i.
Examine
the causes of the problems that hinder history teaching and learning.
ii.
Identify
the role Museums
and Archives play in the fostering and propelling the Nigeria history
education to a greater and acceptable height.
iii.
Access
and analyze the level of teachers and students’ participation in the learning
and teaching of history.
iv.
This study seeks to investigate whether Museums
and Archives will influence the rate of students’ acceptability of learning
history as a subject.
1.4 Research
Questions
In other to ascertain the importance
of this research, these questions are formulated by the researcher for a
conclusive result and it is as follow:
i.
What
are the causes of history teaching/learning problems that hinders history
learning in the secondary schools?
ii. What
role can museum and Archives play in improving the performance of the students
in history education?
iii. Can
the level of teachers / students’ relationship affect the learning and teaching
of history in Nigeria
schools?
iv. Can
Museums and Archives influence students’ acceptability of learning
history as a subject?
1.5 Significance
of the Study
This study will be beneficial to the
teachers in making the teachers to be aware of where museums and archives are
located in their locality. Also, this study will bring out the relationship
between archives, museums and education for a better understanding and clear
identification.
The museums and archives will develop
into a curiosity which brings about experience personal acquaintance with man’s
artistic cultural and intellectual evolution and so develops a sense of
discrimination in the users. It is worthy of note that the relationship between
culture, past and present creates a new understanding for visitors and
therefore enhances intelligent sense of connection and understanding.
Archive and museums as resource
centres cannot be neglected because students and teachers of history will
adequately furnished with historical facts.
Museums and archives are very helpful
for understanding history and should therefore, be fully integrated into the
teaching methods of local history in Nigerian schools. Their integration should
be seen as part of the effort to review the ideas of concepts that should
underline the teaching of higher school local history.
1.6 Scope and
Limitation
The research is aware that there are
many museums in the federation such museum are located in the following places
which includes: Gidan Makama museum in
Kano, National Museum Lagos, Oron Museum in Oron, Museum of antiquities in
Oshogbo museum of Ife antiquities, Benin museum etc. Also, there are many
archives institution in the country which are: National archives in Lagos, Enugu, Sokoto, Benin,
Kano, Ilorn,
Calabar etc. But as a result of crowded academic programme the researcher will
not be able to visit all the museums and available archives only National
museum in Lagos
will be visited.
This study will be limited to
National museum in Lagos and the focal school
which is Onike Junior High School. Therefore, the
researcher is limited by many factors like; time, which posse a constraint in
writing this study. The study has to be carried out amidst equally compelling
university programmes. Lack of easy means of transportation, distance of
schools for the study, finance which at this time of economic recession did not
allow a more comprehensive study to be carried out.
Therefore, recommendations and
suggestions of this study were based on findings from the selected museum and
the school in focus with the result of the conducted interviews.
1.7 Operational
Definition
Archives: A place where public records are
kept.
Museum: An institution for the collection,
permanent preservation and exhibition of objects of all kinds of illustrations.
Especially the development of the arts and sciences, the growth and
civilization of all ages and of natural products or the building in which arts
collections are kept and preserved for future reference.
History: Is the branch of knowledge or the
study of events that have already taken place.
Institution: An established law, custom etc. an
organization having some social educational or religions purpose.
Antiquities: Means the ancient period of history
or great age: oldness.
Culture: Means improvement by study or
training. Or the skills arts etc. of a given people in a given period;
civilization.
Generation:
Means a single stage in the succession of descent the average time.
Click “DOWNLOAD NOW” below to get the complete Projects
FOR QUICK HELP CHAT WITH US NOW!
+(234) 0814 780 1594
Login To Comment