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poopnoodle October 1st, 2010 10:35 AM

the importance of learning history
 
while i believe that history to a nation (or planet) is as significant as memory is to an individual, i'm curious about your thoughts. is the study of history relevant to you? do you think history class should be a basic, mandatory course or an elective?

discuss ~_~

donavannj October 1st, 2010 11:12 AM

I'd think more people would enjoy it if it were an elective or if the teachers who taught it engaged the students in discussions better, but I feel its too important to be relegated to an elective course in schools.

Livewire October 1st, 2010 11:17 AM

History is extremely important to a diverse understanding of our world. It offers many life lessons and it tells the story of how we got to were we are today.

As far as I know, History is a requirement for graduation from High School in the USA. As it should be.

Timbjerr October 1st, 2010 11:23 AM

I looved U.S. History when I was in high school. To me, it was like a well-written dramatic play. It has everything...politics, war, romanticism, and science. :D

However, I can see where people can find it boring, not to mention that it's hardly practical knowledge, so I would love to see it as an elective in high schools as opposed to something mandatory.

Rogue planet October 1st, 2010 11:34 AM

It can teach us so many things about science, society, and I think most importantly, politics; which I think is an area far too often overlooked these days, and it shouldn't be seeing as our governments have an incredibly large impact on what happens in the world.
The past has shaped the world around us, it can help us learn from previous mistakes and it can help us predict the future.

Unless someone actually wants to be ignorant about how the world around them was shaped and created, then I think everyone should learn history. At the very least I expect people to know modern history (aka the past century).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timbjerr
not to mention that it's hardly practical knowledge

Those that are practical become the tools of those that are in power, the politicians.

Spherical Ice October 1st, 2010 11:52 AM

[jq]Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.[/jq]
~ George Santayana

Yeah, that quote basically sums it up for me. And it's fun to find out about the past anyway.

Fyreflies October 1st, 2010 2:00 PM

Basic history, yes, though the rest should be optional.

Her October 1st, 2010 2:11 PM

History is a beautiful subject , it really is. It teaches about how we as a world came from the smallest beginnings to the enormous society we are today. It shows us the mistakes we have made and how we have learned from them, but also the triumphs we have made. It gives us lessons to which we can all learn from and teach to others.

Basically, history is something that we all should know. Only ignorant people would ever pass up the opportunity to learn about where they came from and ultimately what makes the world around them...go round.

Yuoaman October 1st, 2010 3:11 PM

Every person should at least learn basic history, though I wish more people were interested in delving deeper; it can help people in so many ways to know where we came from and why we are like we are in the present.

Weeaboo Name October 1st, 2010 3:14 PM

I preferred natural history ahead of social history but still it is very important. Knowing what previous generations have been through is important to me.

PlatinumDude October 1st, 2010 3:54 PM

I would've liked it if History was an elective; if it was mandatory, it wouldn't be as fun, and be treated as "serious business." Learning about things is more fun if you're interested in them.

Mario The World Champion October 1st, 2010 4:13 PM

I've always enjoyed history and how the U.S. came to be. However, my history classes always focused on Columbus discovering America, the Revolutionary War all the way to the Civil War and nothing about the the great expansion of the West and the 20th century. It was only in my Senior year in school that we talked about 20th century events like both World Wars up until the 1970's and by that time, I knew some nuggets of that timeframe by other means.

That's my main gripe, but I do see that learning about how the county was first formed will somehow make us learn more about other American history events. Keep it mandatory, but at least delve deeper into the 20th century. It had its fair share of historic events as the centuries before.

Good thing I like to watch History International when they are not showing all that Nostradamus crap.

Livewire October 1st, 2010 4:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mario The World Champion (Post 6195750)
I've always enjoyed history and how the U.S. came to be. However, my history classes always focused on Columbus discovering America, the Revolutionary War all the way to the Civil War and nothing about the the great expansion of the West and the 20th century. It was only in my Senior year in school that we talked about 20th century events like both World Wars up until the 1970's and by that time, I knew some nuggets of that timeframe by other means.

That's my main gripe, but I do see that learning about how the county was first formed will somehow make us learn more about other American history events. Keep it mandatory, but at least delve deeper into the 20th century. It had its fair share of historic events as the centuries before.

Good thing I like to watch History International when they are not showing all that Nostradamus crap.

This. ^

Exactly. Unfortuanatly for me, I had to wait until college to take the very detailed classes. I had a class, HST 231, which focused on the 20th century entirely. Great Class, too.

Spinor October 1st, 2010 5:03 PM

In my opinion, all people need is basic history. We shouldn't be forced to learn the freaking details if we don't want to. And yes, there are a few people that want to, otherwise there'd be no history teachers.

Right, I have a lot against High School History.

I swear I wanted to die after 6th grade social studies because after that point it's names, dates, names, wars, religions, more names, silly wars, and more dates! to cram into your head! Did I mention names?

You know what I could use that space I have to force cram history into my head for a year? For Physics and Calculus. History is for the people inclined to our past. I am inclined for the present with Math and English and I aim for the future with Engineering.

Right, there's going to be people that disagree with me. But I am not saying that advanced math and sciences should be forced, but it should at least have much more priority than history subjects. If World History was an elective and later US history was an elective, everyone would be happy.

Livewire October 1st, 2010 5:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdvancedK47 (Post 6195849)
In my opinion, all people need is basic history. We shouldn't be forced to learn the freaking details if we don't want to. And yes, there are a few people that want to, otherwise there'd be no history teachers.

Right, I have a lot against High School History.

I swear I wanted to die after 6th grade social studies because after that point it's names, dates, names, wars, religions, more names, silly wars, and more dates! to cram into your head! Did I mention names?

You know what I could use that space I have to force cram history into my head for a year? For Physics and Calculus. History is for the people inclined to our past. I am inclined for the present with Math and English and I aim for the future with Engineering.

Right, there's going to be people that disagree with me. But I am not saying that advanced math and sciences should be forced, but it should at least have much more priority than history subjects. If World History was an elective and later US history was an elective, everyone would be happy.

There isn't any point to learn history if you don't learn the details. That is History, right there.

Math and science are important, but they don't have any greater purpose. You won't find answers to why the world is the way it is, and important life lessons on culture, people, politics, and the entire world in Calculus or Physics. All the subjects are there for a reason. All of them are important.

Yuoaman October 1st, 2010 5:38 PM

I'm actually not as interested with recent history than I am with the earlier history. Anything after the Renaissance doesn't hold my interest as well as learning about the Romans and the early Dark Ages.

Spinor October 1st, 2010 5:38 PM

Right, all subjects have their degree of importance. But in the end it should be what the learner is interested. If I'm not interested in learning about other cultures besides just live happily with the people that do stuff differently than you, then I really shouldn't. Can I pop a question or two on why the hell you eat your pizza with a fork? Of course. But I don't want to know how many degrees you have to kneel your knees to some random gods while eating this mixture of cat intestines and cow hearts while doing some ninja hand sign or else you'll go to hell or something. Not like religion conflicts much with me. I'm apparently baptized Catholic, and right, I'll accept the teachings of Jesus that I know, but I want to live my life the way I feel it should be lived, and not spend every waking Sunday in masses. So what? I don't conflict with other people's religions, and I should not care most of the time either.

I don't want answers to why the world is the way it is, I just want answers for my test so I can get these damn subjects over with.

Livewire October 1st, 2010 6:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yuoaman (Post 6195913)
I'm actually not as interested with recent history than I am with the earlier history. Anything after the Renaissance doesn't hold my interest as well as learning about the Romans and the early Dark Ages.

Yeah, the Rennaisance is usually my cut off. Then I get interested again in the 1800's.

donavannj October 1st, 2010 6:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Live_Wire466 (Post 6195763)


This. ^

Exactly. Unfortuanatly for me, I had to wait until college to take the very detailed classes. I had a class, HST 231, which focused on the 20th century entirely. Great Class, too.

Your schools were obviously doing US History wrong, then, if you had to take it in college to get anything decent. In the school district I attended, in the 7th grade (12/13 year olds) US History was covered from the first peoples to inhabit the Americas all the way to World War I. 3 years later, in 10th grade (15/16 year olds), US History went from World War II to the 1970s. Much more in-depth with that latter one because the students were older and there was a lot more occurring in that time period that's still relevant today, and in my case it was because we had so many discussions about that era that we couldn't make it to the 1980s/1990s/2000s. ^-^;;

Livewire October 1st, 2010 6:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donavannj (Post 6196011)
Your schools were obviously doing US History wrong, then, if you had to take it in college to get anything decent. In the school district I attended, in the 7th grade (12/13 year olds) US History was covered from the first peoples to inhabit the Americas all the way to World War I. 3 years later, in 10th grade (15/16 year olds), US History went from World War II to the 1970s. Much more in-depth with that latter one because the students were older and there was a lot more occurring in that time period that's still relevant today, and in my case it was because we had so many discussions about that era that we couldn't make it to the 1980s/1990s/2000s. ^-^;;

Yes, very wrong I might add. I had one World history class, from K-12 grade. Only one, ever until I took HST 175 my Frosh year in college.

The History classes we take are very cut and dry. The basic stuff, the Revolution, the Civil War, WWI and II, then the Cold War and Vietnam. Very basic.

EDIT: It appears that i forgot AP European History Junior year. Aside from that class, which was awesome, the school didn't have any other upper level history classes. We did have a nice Gov class though.

Trap-Eds October 1st, 2010 9:52 PM

I enjoy my AP American History class. Before my history classes would just barely cover the basics, but now I'm finally learning the details. Plus my teacher is great at NOT boring us to tears.

History is an important subject-if we didn't know how stuff occurred beforehand how can we prepare for the future?

Zet October 1st, 2010 11:19 PM

History is a very important subject to learn in my opinion, otherwise people won't know how many great things came into existence like sliced bread. Though from what I've learned from history is that war is a human nature that we can't avoid. :(

Guillermo October 1st, 2010 11:31 PM

Most History is tampered with anyway, but it's a pretty interesting topic.

Tryst October 2nd, 2010 3:26 AM

Some people are saying that we do not need to study history since studying events in the past is no use. However, learning history is very worthwhile and has a significant meaning to us. :] ..There are several reasons why I believe this.

To begin with, we are living in a part of history now. It means that the present, which is to become the past as the moment passes, can not be apart from history. Some people may assume that the past is something happened long time ago. However, it is only partially true. Yesterday, or even a minute ago becomes a part of history. Thus, if we believe that studying history is no use, we admit that we are living lives which will become meaningless in the future.

In addition, we learn many things from the past. History is not an obsolete thing. Rather, it gives us valuable lessons which help to make our lives better. For instance, we definitely know how tragic the result of the war is from the cases of World War and Civil war in the history. From the devastating events in the past, we come to know the war can never be justified whatever causes are.

Finally, history reveals who we really are. There is an old saying 'Like father, like son', which indicates the importance of knowing who our forefathers are like. Our lives are so much the reflection of theirs. That is, by carefully looking at their ways of thinking or their attitudes, we will have a better understanding of ourselves.

In conclusion, we should appreciate learning history since it has significant value itself. First, the moment we are living now is a part of history. Also, history teaches us valuable lessons, so that we will not do the same thing wrong ever again! Lastly, we learn more about ourselves through history by seeing the lives of our forefathers. Therefore, studying history should be encouraged at all coats.

Sinnoh_Freak October 2nd, 2010 4:47 AM

British/European history I find is really interesting. I took history as an option, seeing as I want to teach it as a career. Anyway, I've been watching a weekly documentary about U.S. History and I find it really interesting.

I don't know if they tell you this over there, but did you know the U.S. was founded on Tobacco, and from 1614 - 1764 it was the countries greatest export? :o


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