Switzerland

Contact
Verein Schweizerischer Geschichtslehrerinnen und Geschichtslehrer (VSGs)
Association of Swiss History Teachers

Christiane Derrer

Rötelsteig 19
CH - 8037 Zürich
Phone: +41-1-364 45 05
Email: chderrer@hotmail.com
Homepage: http://www.ch-historia.ch
About the organisation
The VSGs is a non-governmental organisation that seeks to connect history teachers all over Switzerland and encourage an exchange among them about their activities in the classroom. Through a bulletin every half year, the VSGs offers information about newest developments in history teaching in Switzerland and on a European level. It also organizes seminars and courses for teachers.
The history competition
The first all-Swiss history competition HISTORIA was announced in Septem­ber 2003 under the topic "Migration". By announcing the same topic in three languages (German, French, Italian) and in all parts of the country, the organisers aim at strengthening Swiss unity and interchange of ideas. The competition is held every second year. In order to reach as many Swiss students as possible and encourage them to deal with history, papers written for the final secondary school state examination (Matura) are accepted as well. Since the dead­lines for handing in the Matura papers are different in the 26 can­tons, the period between announcement and evaluation stretches over 17 months altogether.
Other activities
The VSGs also organizes regular seminars and courses in secondary education.
Requirements
Students of two age groups, one from 14-16 and one from 17-21 are asked to undertake research within their families or neighborhood, to work in ar­chives and libraries and find sources about their chosen topic. During their field work they should get in touch with official institutions as well as organisations and conduct interviews with contemporary witnesses. The result of their re­search should be verifiable and presented in a clear manner that shows analytical as well as interpretative skills and is well structured and illustrated. The form of presentation can differ, research can be presented as a written paper, an art product, a collage, a radio play, video, drama, an exhibition, a website or a CD-ROM. Students can work alone or in groups.
Jury
Members of the Jury that evaluate the research papers handed in are historians in various fields, working at universities, archives, libraries, museums and in journalism.
Award
The prizes are in cash. The winners of first prizes will be invited to attend one-week-seminars abroad in the framework of EUSTORY.