Why Children Should Study History at School

Children are expected to take so many different subjects these days that, sometimes, others get pushed out of the curriculum. History is an important subject that seems to be having its status as a worthy subject somewhat challenged, which is rather unfortunate. Less time is being given to subjects such as History, since what use does History have in the 'real world'? However, History does have relevance to the present day and it is impossible to understand the world as it exists today without considering the past. It is therefore essential for children to study History at school in order to get a well-rounded view of the world.

If children are to understand the politics of the country they are being raised in and to comprehend the relationships that exist between different nations, they have to study History. History is an important component of a nation's identity and therefore also its citizens'. For children to have any sense of belonging to a nation, it helps to be able to point to events in the past that represent a collective memory. It helps promote unity and a common sense of purpose. However, History should not merely be used as a tool to inculcate children into a certain way of thinking, since History works best when it gets children to question what they are told.

History enables children to explore the idea that there is not a single, universal truth. They can examine primary sources for themselves and discover that, even in the past, different people had different positions in society and different motivations for doing what they did or recording events as they did. They can learn about propaganda and how those with power were able to manipulate others with less power into believing what they were told, thus influencing the way they behaved. It is therefore clear why children should learn a subject like History, when it teaches them to question authority and not simply accept everything they are being told.

This is the case in liberal societies, at least, though in less developed nations – often those with a turbulent past – it is easier to paint the past as a continuing battle between 'good' and 'evil', especially for those on the receiving end of imperialism. Yet, once children are exposed to the fact that History is about more than just great wars and great leaders, they want to delve into what the lives of ordinary people were like. When thinking about the past, it can sometimes feel so alien compared to society today, but children are able to discover that even though there were no computer games or televisions, children still found ways to entertain themselves and get into mischief!

History is a diverse subject that has so many potential areas of interest to children that it is worth studying. Although it may not be a practical subject and seems as though it would be of little use in the workplace, studying History helps children to get a comprehensive education and to develop certain skills which can prove useful. Children learn how to analyse and interpret a range of primary and secondary sources; they learn to express themselves on paper and verbally; whilst they also learn how to present an argument and back it up with evidence. These are useful skills to possess, therefore making History a worthwhile subject to study.