We Teach History Because History Teaches Us
We Teach History Because History Teaches Us
Think about the last book you read. What about that book kept you interested long enough to finish? Was it a specific character? Was it a plot point? Did the overall story captivate you or was it the underlying message it delivered that held your interest?
Books have power because the stories they tell transcend age, race, ethnicity, social status, and other dividing factors to not only entertain but educate. In a similar respect, history does the same thing. There are characters we root for like George Washington who lead America into an epic battle for freedom. Characters we watch rise to new heights like Thomas Edison who gave us over a dozen inventions. And characters whose true colors are proven by their actions, like Benedict Arnold who became synonymous with the word “traitor”.
With all that said, there is a reason we continue to teach history to students of all ages. In fact there are several!
Reasons We Teach History
History Tells An Amazing Story
How can you not marvel at the earliest peoples who built entire civilizations that shaped humanity as we know it? From beginning to end, Earth’s story is one incredible feat after another, from the invention of the wheel to the invention of the cell phone. From past to present, east to west, north to south, history teaches us about the power of perseverance and working together. Books make a strong effort but nothing comes close to the stories history tells!
History Teaches Life Lessons
History, by definition, is the study of past events. Through research, primary and secondary sources, and the oral and written histories left behind, we learn to see events not just the way they were written but through the eyes of those who lived through it. History enriches our understanding of life by exploring questions related to character and morality, innovation and resourcefulness, spirituality and bureaucracy. It gives us insight we normally wouldn’t be privy to, and teaches us where our very beliefs, customs, and traditions originated.
History Invokes Critical Analysis
“History is written by the survivors.” The idea that the victor tells the story is not a new idea, but it does call into question whether what we know is true or not. It influences our interpretation of events. For example, the very first Thanksgiving and the coming of Christopher Columbus has two sides. The first, where he discovered a brave new world we now cherish. The second, being the destruction of the indigenous life who had already claimed this “new world.” Knowing what happened before, during, and after asks us to question the accuracy of facts presented and allows us to ask questions and debate how things may have been done differently, and whether the people we honor truly deserve our admiration.
History Influences Our Understand of the Past, Present, and Future
“History repeats itself.” We read the same stories of survival told over and over, with different characters, different struggles, and different outcomes, but these stories follow a trend that we can use to change the way we think and act today.
Cris Johnson’s Amazing School Assemblies and Library Shows believes that fun and education can go hand-in-hand. So make your family time amazing and book Cris for your school’s next assembly for an experience like no other!