Social Studies? Important or Not? What Grade Should It End at?
by Discuss this issue.
Is Social Studies important at all? Why?
X To learn from our past history; we do not make the same mistakes in our future. To also know about the what, why and how helps us all to be better by not taking things for grated, help where you can and accept the things you can not change.
X Because understanding other people is important. Because learning about how our country came to be is important.
√ No, but the studies of why other people ‘are who they are’, is, however, important. You see, taking classes like phycology and sociology and replacing it with the standard and bland elements of the “Why the Articles of Confederation ratify new territories in right of deposit -blah blah- government -something- township Act.”
The idea that I as a human need to know why I shouldn’t go start a riot in Yorktown and not sign a treaty is, excuse my French, bullshit. The bigwigs and broken piggy banks need this knowledge so they, quote unquote won’t, ‘make the same mistakes in our future’. Oh wait. What the hell am I saying? They ARE making the same mistakes. The one thing I have learned in history is that history repeats itself. You can’t prevent this by teaching Johnny Woodcock not to go throw snowballs at law enforcers or not to fire on Fort Sumpter. Bailouts, health-care, taxes spent on bridges that go to Imagination Land all the way to Timbuktu. Americans are stupid, don’t get me wrong; but my god people.
If you were to ask a 9th grader a question from the same textbook he had last year, how many would he get wrong before he got one right? It is not an interesting subject. Sure, there are ways around this boring and depressing, GPA lowering, subject. Sure, maybe there is someone out there who adores Social Studies. But the majority of the students in the classroom can’t wait to leave though that doorway when the bell rings. What’s the homework for tonight? Read the questions in the back of the chapter and match them with the bold letters in pages 115-130 assigned. Jesus Christ. And when a test comes, get out a pencil and say your 10 hail Marys because you might experience a bumpy ride.
If you really want to learn about how our country came to be, then fine, make it equivalent to a language course, Spanish I, Spanish II. Could we end History for kids after middle school?
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Post CommentAroberts
On November 5, 2009 at 1:16 am
I am a graduate school with Walden University. I am currently working on my Masters in Education with a concentration in Integrating Technology in the Classroom. My assignment this week was to find a content-related blog that I could participate in this week.
Yes, I believe social studies is important. When I walk into my classroom every day, I do not think about how I am teaching about the French revolution. I think about the connections between the French revolution and the U.S. government today that I can prove to my students. I am always trying to prove and make them understand that what we are learning in history does relate in some way to today’s world. As a result, my students see what, why, and how we are today. It is important to know where people came from–your own culture and/or other cultures.
No, I do not think we should stop social studies classes after the middle school level. I teach 7th grade world history and I know that based on child development studies, children mature at different rates–relating to why children are only taught the basics in elementary school. I believe if children did not take social studies classes after middle school, they would not have as much knowledge about history as they do. With students taking social studies classes in high school, they are able to become deeper involved in the content. For example, I believe if seniors in high school did not take a government class, most of them might not feel the need to register to vote. I know it is because of my 12th grade government teacher, why I registered to vote and also why I became a social studies teacher.
Aroberts
On November 8, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I would like to hear your feedback on the research of child development and learning various details at an older age versus a younger age; thus, being one of the reasons why I believe children should take Social Studies classes throughout high school.