 |
 |
|||||
 |
||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
Teacher: Graeme Stacey, Mount Boucherie High School, Westbank BC
Grade level: Secondary (Social Studies Gr. 11, History Gr.12, Holocaust Gr.12)
HKVCA’s former B.C. Regional Director, Linda Stewart makes the following comments about Graeme Stacey’s work:
“Graeme has pioneered the inclusion of the Hong Kong material in classrooms in B.C. He has a passion for the Hong Kong veterans and we very much appreciate his allowing us to include his material and, with the permission of the B.C. Ministry of Education, the Resource Guide in our Teachers’ Zone.”
Graeme was born and raised on Vancouver Island where he graduated from Parkland Secondary School in Sidney. He then attended the University of Victoria and graduated in 1994 as a History Major with a Bachelor of Education. Graeme completed his Masters Degree in Educational Leadership (Curriculum Focus) at San Diego State University in the spring of 2002.
Graeme was never taught the story of ‘C’ Force in high school or at the University of Victoria. In 1994, as a student teacher, he saw the video “Savage Christmas”. He was extremely moved by the story of the Hong Kong veterans and was compelled to write letters to Bob Clayton and Bob Manchester, two of the HK vets who were interviewed in the video. They in turn put Graeme in touch with Lionel Speller (RCCS) who lived in Victoria. Graeme was so touched and inspired by these men that he made a vow to himself to learn as much as he could about these brave Canadian war heroes and teach their story to his students.
Graeme continued to interview many of the HK vets in BC that Lionel put him in contact with. HK vets like Don MacPherson, Aubrey Flegg and Larry Stebbe to name a few. He read everything he could find about ‘C’ Force and became inspired to do what ever was necessary to have the story of the Hong Kong veterans included in the BC High School Social Studies curriculum.
Graeme wrote his thesis for his Masters Degree based on the story of the HK vets. He was successful in his goal to have their story included in BC classrooms between 1999 and 2001 as part of the “Human Rights in the Asia Pacific” resource. This resource not only included the HK story but also the Rape of Nanking, Comfort Women, and the Japanese Imperial Army’s activities during WWII.
In Graeme’s own words, “Human Rights in the Asia Pacific 1931-1945, with my focus on Canadian Hong Kong Veterans, is available to every secondary school in British Columbia. The Ministry of Education deemed this curriculum important and relevant to the lives of students across our province, thus invested time and money into ensuring a quality resource would be produced to aid teachers. There is no longer a need to search out this topic, or flip past it in a textbook. There is a base for all to start with.
Human Rights in the Asia Pacific 1931 – 1945 is available in a teacher friendly booklet and broken down into sections: introduction, teacher backgrounder, lessons (one through five), resources and handouts. It is complete with maps, testimonials, pictures, quotes, details of peace treaties and international conventions on war, assessment and extension possibilities. Both young and old, new and experienced, exposed and unexposed teachers now have the opportunity to share a story with students before the 247 (calculated as of August 2001 by Lionel Speller) veterans who fought valiantly and bravely, both in battle and as prisoners of war, are gone. The resource is there to help teachers with their courses and recognize the sacrifices of Canadians in W.W.II beyond what is already covered. It is unprecedented in terms of curriculum. Perhaps even more relevant is bringing history alive for students. ”
Due to Graeme’s efforts, this material is currently taught in BC classrooms in Social Studies 11, Civics 11, Law 12 and History 12.
For many years Graeme has presented the Hong Kong veterans story at BC Provincial Studies workshops. His workshop is titled “Canadian Hong Kong Veterans: Their Story, Struggles and Survival”. Don MacPherson and Larry Stebbe have attended workshops with Graeme in the past. Until recently, Aubrey Flegg spoke on a regular basis to Graeme’s Social Studies 11 class in Westbank.
At the 2003 HKVCA National Convention in Victoria BC, Graeme was presented with a plaque in appreciation for his efforts and success in having the story of the Hong Kong veterans included in the BC social studies curriculum. The words on the plaque read, “Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association recognizes Graeme Stacey for developing a curriculum to educate Canadian youth about the sacrifices of ‘C’ Force in the defence of Hong Kong.”
Graeme’s Rationale for the development of the Resource Guide for teachers - “Human Rights in the Asia Pacific 1931-1945"
The Important
Influence of Iris Chang and “The Rape of Nanking”
in Graeme Stacey’s Essay
| Contact Us | Top of Page | Copyright © HKVCA 2008 - 2011 |