In my first lesson with the College's History Extension Class of 2017, I placed a juicy apple on the table and explained that by examining it, the students would be able to come to a basic understanding of every school of historiographical interpretation from Herodotus to Hayden White.

With that, the unforgettable journey towards the submission of each individual student’s 2500-word Major Projects began, culminating in their presentation at the College's annual Illuminate celebration night. On the night, four students from the class (Sophia Kovac, Riya Mandri, Doohan Murphy, and Ellise Mustafa) took part in an interview with myself in which they discussed the joys and challenges of this rigorous process, as well as sharing unique insights into how they have grown as learners as a result of the History Extension course.

They also shared about their personal interest in their topics as well as some of their findings. The Major Projects drew on a wide array of contemporary historical debates, from the fall of the Bastille to the Kashmir Conflict, World War II atomic diplomacy to shifting perspectives on capital punishment. Contemporary controversies such as the ownership of Kosovo and revisionist histories on the Korean ‘comfort women’ are found next to feminist revisions of the legacy of Marie Antoinette and examinations of the legal and moral justifications for the Afghanistan War.

One student was bold enough to examine the plausibility and effectiveness of Richard Evans’ famous critiques of Richard Jenkins and postmodern approaches to historical inquiry more broadly, while another weighed up the implications of Harry S. Truman’s deployment of nuclear weapons against America’s 1945 geopolitical aims.

These projects are both educational and entertaining, a riveting set of investigations by the future historians of Australia. It has been a privilege and a joy to partner with the fantastic students of History Extension 2017, and I would consider it a success if I have imparted to them even a fraction of what I have learned from their fascinating insights into the past. I would like to congratulate each and every one of them for their hard work.

The History Extension class of 2017 are:

  • Jade Dobrincic
  • Demi Farah
  • Sophia Kovac
  • Izabella Liso
  • Riya Mandri
  • Tariro Mapika
  • Doohan Murphy
  • Ellise Mustafa
  • Shweta Prakesh
  • Jacob Smith

Mr Matthew Driscoll
HSIE Teacher