History at Hilton College
This is an outline of the material covered in the various Forms by boys taking History as a subject at Hilton College.
It is important to bear in mind that the selection of subject matter in Forms 1 and 2 (Grades 8 and 9) is one over which we have free choice except that we have to take into consideration the compulsory Grade 9 National Leaving Certificate examination, which all pupils in South Africa are obliged to write. Even so, we believe that if pupils have been trained in the necessary skills, the subject matter of any examination should be largely inconsequential.
In Grade 10 (Form 3) we are not bound by the demands of any external examination, but we do like to use the year to continue training boys in the skills that the subject uses, as well as laying a foundation for the work that has to be covered in the I.E.B. "Matriculation" examination. It is also a chance for us as teachers and pupils to explore areas of current interest. By this stage the boys have developed sufficient skills of research and comprehension to be able to make sense of recent and current events - "History in the making".
Forms 4 and 5 (Grades 11 and 12) are devoted entirely to the demands of the Matriculation examination. The object is to cover all the work needed for the final examinations before the boys write "Trials" in September of their final year - thus leaving the rest of the third quarter and the first part of the 4th quarter free for revision and skills-honing.