Social Studies Importance

Social Studies is an often overlooked and under taught subject. Students find Social Studies to be boring, repetitive and not relevant to their own lives. According to research done and documented by Mark C. Schug, children do not think Social Studies is valuable or an interesting part of the curriculum (Why Kids Don’t Like Social Studies, 1982). When students do not see a purpose in learning content from a subject, they will become unattached and unmotivated in the classroom. Students need educators to explain the relevance and importance of Social Studies, so they are able to understand and get the most out of their learning experience. I believe that Social Studies is relevant and important to everyone, and needs to be taught and learned about by all people. What is Social Studies? In 1992, The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) defined Social Studies as, “the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. Within the

Educators and future educators should teach Social Studies for the exact reason that the NCSS states in their definition of Social Studies, “to help young people make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.” (National Curriculum Standards, 1992). Educators should teach Social Studies to give students a deeper understanding of not only their own cultural background, but the backgrounds of their peers as well.According to a document titled “Why Teach History: The Views of American Historians”, we should teach Social Studies to: develop good citizenship, promote patriotism, prepare for life, and develop critical thinking skills (Why Teach History, 1970) By teaching Social Studies, students will better understand human behavior, be able to acknowledge and evaluate differing sides of issues, and will be ready to make informed decisions based on their own