Scotch College

Scotch College: Great Scot: Historical essay successes

Historical essay successes

Two Scotch boys have recently achieved notable successes in history competitions.

John Lee, Year 10, won the Year 9 and 10 category of the National History Challenge. His winning essay concerned the treatment of the Chinese on the 19th century goldfields, and the lessons we can draw from this today.

The judges were impressed, not only by his essay, but also his performance in interviews. This competition was open to students throughout Australia, and John was flown to Canberra to receive his prize in a ceremony at Parliament House.

Adam Sher, Year 11, won the Monash University History Prize for the best essay submitted in Unit 1 or 2 History in 1998. His essay, on wartime attitudes to the Nazi extermination of the Jews, was judged best in a competition in which the standard, according to the chief judge, was so high as to be 'amazing'.

A further indication of their skill is that John and Adam shared the $500 prize in Scotch College's inaugural Russell and Mary Foreman Essay Prize. This prize, donated by Russell and Mary Foreman, was for the best essay on the topic 'What can Australia learn from her past that will help her future?'. The competition was open to all students in Years 9 to 11 and is an annual event.

These fine achievements of John and Adam suggest that they may follow in the footsteps of other fine historians produced by the school.