Why is the subject of social studies important? Why do students need to know social studies? I have asked my own teachers these gripping questions in the past. I received responses such as “Because you have to and that’s just that,” and “Because you should learn about the history of our world.” Those answers never satisfied my inquisitive nature, and that lack of satisfaction spilled over into my motivation for learning social studies in general. In beginning to answer these questions as a future teacher, I immediately think of all of the negative experiences I have had in my social studies classes. I think of those classes that I absolutely hated attending in school, and that is what makes me search deeper for an answer. After such a search, I realize that social studies is an important subject for a number of reasons. I also realize that my experiences with this seemingly dull subject in the past will make me a better teacher.
Social studies is an important subject because of its main purpose. Here we have the overwhelmingly large and central goal of creating “good citizens.” Well that sounds nice, but what does that actually mean? For me the idea here involves creating objective, informed, responsible, open-minded, and inquisitive human beings. As teachers, we want children to become positively contributing members of their communities. We want children to gain the ability to become independent in every respect. We most certainly want children to be knowledgeable about the world they live in. This goal of developing “good citizens” is vast, but so is the impact we as teachers will have on children in adulthood. It is through our teaching of social studies that we can shape our students into citizens worthy of respect. The result of teaching social studies says a lot for the subject.
Yet another purpose of this subject is to help children learn to deal with problems. Today’s children are faced with many more problems than I was faced with in school. Children are being abused and subjected to domestic violence. Children are in gangs and on drugs. Children are committing crimes, and they need help. These are only some of the challenges that children have to deal with in their everyday lives, and as they grow into adulthood, they will continue to encounter more challenges. The ability of problem solving is probably the most important skill any person should have. It is because of that fact that social studies is an important subject. There is a catch here however. If social studies is not taught in such a manner that problem solving is prevalent, this reasoning is shattered. This is where good teaching comes in to play. When you find a good social studies teacher, you will find good problem solvers.
The value of social studies also lies in its content. Most people think of history when you talk of social studies. History examines the forces of change and continuity. Its study enables us to understand the relationship between the present and the past, and the mistakes and the triumphs that this world has made throughout time serve as a precedent for future behavior. Another content area of social studies is that of geography. Geography enables students to find answers to questions about the world around them. It is through geography that people can appreciate other cultures, places, and environments. Students learn about the varying people and places that this world holds, and such knowledge brings respect for those other cultures and regions. With social studies comes a better understanding of the world, and that knowledge can be a very powerful tool.
The real issue here is “how” to teach social studies. As I mentioned before, my experiences with social studies were very negative. I found reading from a textbook, memorizing dates, and being periodically quizzed on historical figures to be horribly boring and it did not motivate me in any way. Those tasks made me hate social studies, and this is why I know not to teach in that same way. I do not want to bore my students to tears. I intend to bring history to life in my classroom by having guest appearances made by some of those famous historical figures studied in textbooks. I would personally or another friend/colleague would dress up as a person of the past and visit the classroom. I know that if I were to have actually met a historical figure in my past classrooms I would have enjoyed that learning experience much more. I also plan to include varying resources in my classroom so that I do not rely so heavily on a textbook. Primary resources such as letters, songs, pictures, and world documents can really get some children interested in the subjects being studied. Videos, slideshows, and three-dimensional diagrams or figures can pique the interest of some of those visual learners. Taking fieldtrips related to the social studies content can also motivate students to learn. There are many things that a teacher can do to make social studies “fun.” I hope that I have the stamina to be one of those innovative teachers.
Through my examination of two simple questions, a world of understanding has come to rest in my mind. I understand that social studies is important and should be taught in school. I understand that the goals of creating “good citizens” and problem solvers through our teaching of this subject make it worthy of study. I understand that the content of social studies holds information of great value for all learners. I understand that the teaching of social studies should not be so dry and boring as it has been for so many in the past. I understand that as a future teacher, I have an enormous obligation to my future students, and I hope that my contribution to those children’s lives will be enough. I understand a lot about social studies and its need for inclusion in classrooms, but I still have a great deal to learn about its instruction.
