Why Teach Social Studies? So the question is: Why should Social Studies be taught? I think a quote from John Dewey is somewhat relevant to my thoughts, and I would like to keep it in mind. He writes: “If the aim of historical instruction is to enable the child to appreciate the values of social life, to see in imagination the forces which favor and let men’s effective co-operation with one another, to understand the sorts of character that help on and that hold back, the essential thing in its presentation is to make it moving, dynamic. History must be presented, not as an accumulation of results or effects, a mere statement of what happened, but as a forceful, acting thing. The motives – that is, the motors – must stand out. To study history is not to amass information, but to use information in constructing a vivid picture of how and why men did thus and so; achieved their successes and came to their failures.” (The School and Society) Keeping that idea in mind, I think there are those obvious reasons and answers to the question as to why Social Studies should be taught, and even those and their purposes can be debated: that it instills civics or a sense of civic duty in people, that the process of learning the field upholds the spirit of democracy, that by simply engaging in the subject, it creates a more engaged student body, or just that the knowledge learned can shape decision making in the future. This is not to mention the analytical and skills of the mind that are associated with its study. I think those are all good and valid reasons, yet I also believe that there is a greater fundamental purpose to social studies. Every subject, every field really has this purpose in some way. We could generally say that learning is meant to remove this figurative cloud before our eyes, to cast aside the shadow, and allow us to understand truth, light, and what lies behind. The Maths and Sciences attempt to do this by understanding the physical world, by creating order and dimension out of experience. In that sense, they seek human enlightenment, via both the tangible and intangible, the observable and logical. Language and partly literature not only helps us communicate and binds us together but shapes the very way we think. It subjects us. It gives us order and dimension, builds our movements, and, in short, makes us human. Yet Social Studies is different, for two reasons. First, its unit of analysis, no matter how you attempt to get away from it, is always humanity and the human. It ponders our very nature and shape. Second, it seeks to understand, to find answers, about us through the study of human action. This is true of any subject within the field: Psychology, History, Sociology, and Economics. If we could rephrase this slightly, Social Studies seeks to answer the following questions:
I cannot think of a nobler pursuit for a student of life than to seek to answer those unanswerable questions. The set of inquiry is engaged as a whole, in no other field besides ours, than perhaps art and philosophy, whose limbs stretch, really, into every field. Yet even those problems cannot properly be considered without the lens of Social Studies. Of course, every field has its fundamental purpose, and at times those purposes intertwine with ours immensely. And certainly, if taught correctly, Social Studies also gives proper attention to the fundamental principles and moral virtues that allow us to live according to them, those natural rights that give us freedom, especially in a democratic society. While I am not arguing that Social Studies is the “best” field I am also saying that such a thing does not exist. Only that is an essential and fundamental study. By engaging in those questions above, we also cover those many other key purposes. Simply by studying with such questions in mind, we engage in ideas regarding civics, democracy, freedom, utility, and so on. In essence, I think Social Studies, along with education in general seeks completion, however one wishes to express that: spiritually, intellectually, or morally. In the end all of these things flow into one. As educators we cannot necessarily provide that completion because we lack it ourselves, just like everybody else. Yet our job is to provide students with the tools, and to reconstruct learning, to enable them to autonomously seek that completion. Or, at the very least, to produce in students that yearning that can serve as a first step. If I can sum it up quickly, I would say that history and Social Studies uncover the secrets to human potential. The ideas it presents our powerful, fundamental to the human spirit. It delves into ourselves and allows us to uncover the furtive bounds that lie between nature and civilization for humanity. Social Studies becomes lens through which we evaluate and judge ourselves, as well as discover ourselves. I think a quote from Alan Bloom sums it up best. “We need history, not to tell us what happened, or to explain the past, but to make the past alive so that it can explain us and make a future possible.” ABOUT I am a recent graduate of the Rutgers Graduate School of Education in Social Studies Ed. Prior to that I received my Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Rutgers University. I have had extensive experience in Business, from technical writing, sales, and quality control. I have more recently however become interested in the field of Education, applying business practices and economic theories into understanding the fundamental goals of learning. I did my student teaching at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, teaching five U.S. History I classes, Academic and Standard. I finished the Graduate program with a stellar academic record and look forward to continuing my teaching career. My diligence and commitment to learning, exemplified by my grades, Praxis scores, and experience, would make me a great addition to any staff. In addition to my academic studies, I am also fluent in the use of technology in the classroom, and love to experiment. Teaching is in itself a learning process, and never a solitary one. It is a collaborative process between all teachers, the student body, and the administration. I wish to make the most of my teaching career and learn as much as possible every day. Such an attitude consequently affects the way I teach and has the potential to receive untold benefits in a multitude of ways. MORE INFORMATION If you wish to find more information about me, such as Transcripts, References, Certifications, or Recommendations, feel free to contact me using the information below. CONTACT You can contact me at 732-766-5332, or at romanf88@gmail.com. |