Why do we have to learn this stuff [history] anyway?
In
the fourteen years that I have been in education, a school year does not
end without me hearing this famous question from at least one student. I
begin with first telling them the most common (general) answer any adult
would probably answer with: We learn history so we don't repeat our
mistakes.
This answer seems to make perfect sense to the student(s)
and it is easily accepted, but soon enough they learn that there is much
more to this answer.
In World History we learn about different cultures and/or
civilizations that existed and show them how those civilizations are all
somehow interconnected. In U.S. History, I love the conflict because it
gets the students to think and ask questions. I especially like to
teach the Government/Constitution - Students learn about their rights as
citizens and the rights of others.
