Concordia will host National History Day China this Saturday, March 4, from 9:00-2:30. This event is an exciting way for teachers, students, and community members from a variety of backgrounds to gather, discuss, present, and appreciate high quality historical research. Students work diligently to present projects, which range from research papers and exhibits to documentary films and dramatic performances. Those who place first or second in the Senior Division event advance to the U.S. National History Day Final Contest, held at the University of Maryland, College Park in June. The theme of this year's NHD event is Taking a Stand in History.
The History of National History Day China
Did you know that it was Concordia International School Shanghai that brought National History Day to China back in 2008? It's true. And over the years, hundreds of students from dozens of local and international schools have taken part in this educational event. With the success of NHD at Concordia, the program has now spread to South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Keynote Speakers George Wang and Betty Barr
National History Day China and Concordia International School Shanghai proudly welcome George Wang and Betty Barr to speak to our community of historians. George and Betty were both born in Shanghai and have lived through momentous historical events and great change in this city.They are both educators and have agreed to speak as powerful primary sources as to their experiences in Shanghai over the decades.
George Wang was born in Shanghai in 1927 and has lived here all his life.He started out working as a messenger boy at the age of 14 and retired as an Associate Professor of English at a Community College in Xuhui District.
Betty Barr was born in Shanghai in 1933 and has lived here for 49 of her 81 years.She was a teacher of English in Glasgow, Fife and Hong Kong as well as in Shanghai.For ten years she worked on British Council Teacher Training projects at Shanghai International Studies University.After her retirement she studied for an MLitt and PhD at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, writing her dissertation on how Westerners make sense of Chinese culture.
Since their retirement George and Betty have published Shanghai Boy Shanghai Girl and three other books.
