Human Society and Its Environment

Mr Adrian Brombal – Leader of Learning

The HSIE Juggernaut has not stopped having its biggest semester yet with the inclusion of two courses for the first time at Eastwood; Stage 5 Elective Geography and Stage 6 Society and Culture as well as a student enrolled to complete Stage 6 Aboriginal Studies online. In Year 7 our newest cohort sat in their first history classes which featured an introduction to archaeology and two case studies on ancient societies; Egypt and China. They studied the structure of those societies and the role of Geography in the establishment of two early civilisations which profoundly impacted our modern world. In Year 8 they continued this study of human history chronologically with the focus on Medieval Europe, Feudal Japan and The Black Death. 

In stage 5 the focus of Year 9 HSIE shifted locally towards the making of a modern Australia from Indigenous history, colonisation through to federation. In term two the boys explored Australia at War through a range of conflicts including campaigns at Gallipoli and Kokoda. Not only were the ANZACS studied in the classroom but were also commemorated at our College ANZAC Day service, our representation at the Ryde Council service as well as a commemorative service for Indigenous soldiers at War. 9 Elective History hosted an incursion with Courage to Care who had a Holocaust survivor speak to our historians.

Year 9 and 10 students  also entered in the National History Challenge, addressing the concepts of ‘Crisis and Response’ in addition to Years 7-11 participating in the National History and Australian Geography competitions where Year 9 student Thomas Cheung was awarded first place for Year 9 in Australia.

In Year 10 this semester, students continued the study of Australia during the Vietnam War period as well as an investigation into the changing rights and freedoms of Australians post the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Our Commerce students took great strides in understanding the nature of the business world through the Year 9 topics of Consumer and Financial Decisions and Promoting and Selling. Year 10 Commerce shifted its focus towards the legal and economic spheres with topics on Law, Society and Political Involvement and The Economic and Business Environment.

In Stage 6 the smorgasbord within HSIE department has seen our boys study two rebellions against the Romans and the life of Julius Caesar in Ancient History whilst in Modern History the rise of Dictatorships in 20th Century Europe and the downfall of the Romanov Dynasty. In Legal Studies our seniors investigated the wide ranging world of Crime whilst in Business Studies the boys gained an understanding of business operations and finance.

In Geography, our boys explored biophysical interactions and investigated ecosystems at risk. In Economics the Year 12 cohort explored Australia’s role in a global economy in addition to our Extension historians who developed an appreciation for historiography and moral relativism.