I

have been struggling to teach civics comprehensively in many ways. I have observed that students do learn, but quickly forget when they move up to the next level or graduate. Civics should change students’ character, but it should start from the teacher.

Teachers who teach civics are responsible for changing students’ paradigm. They should be more aware of their country. Since civics is taught from elementary school up to university, people should love their country more. But what happens in Indonesia?

Corruption and violence occur in all aspects of life, which have somehow weakened teachers’ belief. This might be the reason why civics is not powerful when they do the teaching.

I can’t blame myself as a civics teacher. It is not easy to teach civics given our country’s situation. Just look at all our leaders. Even though there are many young leaders in the legislative council these days, some of them have been convicted of corruption.

The government’s actions are appreciated, but still the punishment for those guilty of corruption or violence is too lenient. Some of them appear on TV and make arrogant statements. Not only are teachers aware of it but students are, too. They ask questions and keep asking why because we can’t give them a reasonable answer.

Civics has become a myth. Students study them because they need a good score. Civics loses its power to change students‘ paradigm. It happens because what we learn in school does not match the reality. I sometimes felt hopeless until I watched Soegija, a movie about a bishop who fought for our independence. He did his part for the nation by using his influence to get Holy See recognition of Indonesia as an independent country.

I am surprised that Garin Nugroho could read my mind. The need of visualization of what we have in civics as a lesson. He produced a movie that gives a new hint of how we can better understand the current situation. It piques curiosity in those who are losing faith in Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. Those are the core messages of civics.

By watching the movie, I could visualize the days of Dutch and Japanese colonialism. It is a good piece of information how one of the minor religions in Indonesia took part in our independence struggle. I see the intrigue of politics.

How people of different races and religions faced the same problem, which is their consciousness.

We all are victims of politics. Like in the movie when the Dutch reporter falls in love with a Javanese girl. Both of them are victims of the situation. Meanwhile, some missionaries who are Dutch nationals but close to Indonesia people (they speak Javanese) become victims when Japan takes over Indonesia from the Netherlands.

When I saw the movie, I felt that there was still hope. I asked my students to watch the movie and offered to pay for the tickets. To me it is an investment. It has enlightened me about how to teach civics by having the same understanding from the same visualization. It is important since I need to prove that Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika play a very important role in shaping our characters. Indonesia was built upon the sacrifice of many people with different backgrounds.

It isn’t a coincidence that everybody in Indonesia can watch Soegija. It is destiny that Indonesians will see their country clearly. Another piece of the puzzle has been found. We will see all the pieces together some day.

Charles Samuel Albert
Jakarta