LEAVING CERT HISTORY: HIGHER AND ORDINARY PAPERS:ADOLF HITLER was notable for his absence from yesterday's higher level history paper, but Mary Robinson, Jack Lynch and Ho Chi Minh all made the cut.
This is the third examination of the new Leaving Certificate history syllabus, and teachers reported relief yesterday that the paper is "finally settling down".
Last year's exam was regarded as very tough despite the fact that the new syllabus was designed to make life easier for students.
Negative commentary on the first two exams of the new syllabus has not put students off - the overall number taking history has risen again this year.
The State Examinations Commission released erroneous figures to the media this year suggesting that the number of students taking higher level history had dropped by 40 per cent. The figure has actually risen by five per cent.
Liz Russell of the TUI believes that more students are choosing history because the subject has been made "sexy" by television and the internet. "Students who are not bookworms now have the opportunity to enjoy history through the History Channel or attractive websites," she said. "Even if they are not academic, they enjoy the subject."
History was in decline for many years from the 1980s, when a majority of students took the subject at Leaving Cert level.
The new syllabus, with its emphasis on key personalities, primary-source material and case studies, was designed to reverse the trend.
The new exam is shorter and includes a question on historical documents. A percentage of the marks has already been awarded for a project completed during the school term.
"Yesterday's paper lived up to the promise of the syllabus," said Liz Russell. "The focus has finally moved away from politics and military history, and there was a genuine attempt to examine the social elements of the new syllabus. It's good to see that the NCCA and the SEC are not just paying lip service to the idea of a broader historical perspective."
There had been concerns that textbooks and other classroom materials would not be made available until topics took their place on the exams. This would discourage teachers from taking on less traditional aspects of the new history syllabus.
"I also welcome the appearance of more women on yesterday's higher paper," said Ms Russell, who teaches in Gorey Community School. "Women have accounted for about 2 per cent of exam questions at junior cycle over the last few years."
The higher level paper featured an expected question on Lyndon Johnson and the Vietnam War. The Eucharistic Congress was also anticipated.
A question on the impact of the communications revolution in Ireland gave students the opportunity to discuss the impact of groundbreaking media figures such as Gay Byrne.
"This should set an example for future history papers," said Seán Delap of the Institute of Education, who was very critical of last year's paper. "No exam at this level is easy, but this paper was straightforward and decent compared to last year."
The ordinary level paper was also welcomed. "The new course has been good for ordinary level students," said Ms Russell. "The language is fresh - you are less likely to see archaic phrases such as 'treat of' on the new exams. The ordinary level students have responded well to the syllabus and yesterday's exam was true to the syllabus."
