Effective history education through street signs?

(Baonghean) - Based on the need to diversify the forms of propaganda and education of historical traditions for the people, especially the young generation, the policy of historical education through street name signs and in schools of the Provincial People's Committee is correct and necessary. Up to now, after many meetings, it has been agreed to choose Vinh City as a pilot area in some public schools and main streets. Although it is still in the pilot stage, public opinion has been very interested and has many concerns.

Regarding schools, initially the Department of Education and Training selected all four levels of education as pilot schools, which were public schools in Vinh City (four high schools: Phan Boi Chau, Huynh Thuc Khang, Ha Huy Tap, Le Viet Thuat; three middle schools: Ha Huy Tap, Quang Trung, Le Mao; one primary school: Ha Huy Tap 2, and one kindergarten: Ha Huy Tap). The schools chose the form of placing signs with the content of introducing the famous person, made of granite, placed in a solemn position in the school grounds, with a portrait of the famous person on the sign. Many teachers and parents said: Placing signs introducing famous people in schools is necessary, if the schools already have statues of famous people, adding signs introducing famous people will add to the solemn landscape of the school.

However, the public is currently most concerned about the signboards introducing famous people placed on the streets, which are both costly and have very limited historical education effects. It is costly because a series of old signs have to be replaced, and the new street name signs cannot be larger because they will affect traffic safety. It is known that the new material is a 2-sided stainless steel box sign, the sign surface is covered with blue decals, the letters and border are made of reflective white decals. Due to limited space, the part introducing famous people is very small, very brief, and only pedestrians can read it. Through discussion, many people in Vinh City, including some cultural officers, also share this concern. According to Mr. Pham Dinh, a retired official of Le Mao ward, to effectively educate about the history of famous people, it is necessary to combine many different forms such as regularly broadcasting on the radio of the ward or commune where the street is named after that famous person, or placing larger signs with more complete content at the cultural houses of the block, ward, commune or other public cultural points, which will be more effective and have higher aesthetics.

It is known that, according to the plan, the placement of signs introducing famous people in schools will be carried out at the beginning of the school year (2012 - 2013), but up to now, the selected pilot schools have not been approved for implementation; with the main streets in Vinh City completed before the National Day holiday (September 2, 2012), but now it is still being approved, which shows the caution of the sectors and also many difficulties in implementation. Hopefully, the Appraisal Council needs to continue to solicit wider opinions to make necessary adjustments before implementing the pilot.

Mai Ho Minh