Sunday, March 29, 2020

Why are we learning US history

Introduction Currently, there are numerous demands from the desire to live in the present and focus on the future. This has resulted from the countless uncertainties that people are faced with. As a result, many students may fail to understand the importance of studying early American history at this point in time when they are supposed to be taught about current issues and how to cope with future contingencies (Holt 76).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why are we learning US history? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This has made many opt to go for science subjects whose purposes they believe are easy to discern. It has to be noted that history is very important; in fact indispensable. Nevertheless, it results are hardly tangible and may not be seen immediately like those of other subjects such as engineering. Learners ought to know that history is very essential not only to individuals but also to the entire so ciety. Understanding the society By studying American history, students are able to understand people and the society well. It is by looking at the history of a specific society that one can be able to unravel the mystery of why the society behaves in a specific manner. There are numerous scientific laws that have been put forward in an attempt to explain human behavior. These laws have only been made to stand their grounds by being based on past experience hence underlining the importance of history (Holt 89). Most of the present students have been born at the time when America has already seen civilization. Consequently, it is very hard for such students to understand that technological innovation has a greater influence in the society. It is only by studying the history of the specific society that they can be able to systematically understand the evolution the society has undergone. It is hard for one to solve current problems without knowing the origin of the problem. For insta nce, to counter a problem such as alcoholism, people have gone to the extent of investigating how alcoholism has been in the past years. Through this, they have been able to learn variations in rate of alcoholism and factors that have contributed to the variations (Holt pp. 124-132). History has greatly contributed in solving the problem of alcoholism in the society. This is because researchers have managed to predict its trend based on the historical trends. Low voter turnout is a major problem that currently affects the American. It is only by looking at the history of the voter turnout that Americans can come up with a lasting solution to the problem. Consequently, by learning American history, students are in a better position of educating the society on the importance of turning out in large numbers for such events (Stearns 256).Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They can base their arguments on some of the challenges that were later experienced after elections and attribute them to low voter turnout thus encouraging voters to participate in elections. With every American looking forward for a healthy political environment, this can only be achieved by revisiting the history of its politics, look at the various changes that have emerged and how they have contributed towards improving it or ruining it. Despite a contemporary analysis of the political environment helping in highlight some of the problems; it can not effectively bring out all the problems affecting the American politics. History has to be leveraged for this to be achieved. Moral understanding and sense of identity History contributes to moral understanding and creating a sense of identity. By studying American history, students are presented with varied complexities and dilemmas that past heroes and heroines came across in the past and how they coped with them. As a result, they become inspired by them thus working towards improving their standards in bid to be improve their identity and be associated with the past heroes and heroines (Stearns pp. 260-263). It is through studying history that students can understand their background. This would help them identify with a specific lineage and learn how their families have coped with historical changes. History helps in creating good citizenship History is a vital subject towards bringing up loyal citizens. This is one of the major arguments that been used in supporting inclusion of the subject in curriculum. One can not love his or her country without first understanding the hardships it has gone through to reach where it is as well as how and why various institutions have been established. By understanding these, one can gauge his or her country with others, acknowledge the achievements made and look for ways to make it better thus becoming a loyal citizen (Stearns 258). Further, studying history helps one learn how past, pre sent and future changes that shape citizens’ lives occur or may occur and the impacts they are likely to have. It is through studying the American history that students will be able to develop mental habits that are important for responsible social conduct. Conclusion It is evident that history is indispensable. For some of the scientific theories to be formulated they have to base their arguments on past historical facts. Consequently, learning the American history helps in understanding the social fabrics of the Americans, how the country has evolved and related with its neighbours thus facilitating in molding students to be loyal citizens in future.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why are we learning US history? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Works Cited Holt, Thomas C. Thinking Historically: Narrative, Imagination, and Understanding. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1990. Stearns, Peter N. Meaning over Memory: Recasting the Teaching of History and Culture. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 1993. This essay on Why are we learning US history? was written and submitted by user Graysen K. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Saturday, March 7, 2020

10 TED Talks to inspire teachers

10 TED Talks to inspire teachers Summer is on the way out, and the school year is underway. Everything is shiny and new. But if you’ve taught before, you know it’s not long until the gleam wears off and the grind of the school year sets in. These 10 Ted Talks from teachers who are changing the world around them will inspire you long after September has passed. Watch when you’re feeling burned out, and know that you, too, have a personal hand in molding the lives of the kids you see every day.1. Rita F. Pierson: â€Å"Every Kid Needs a Champion†Pierson has been a teacher for the past 40 years. Her bottom line: you have to connect with your students on a human, personal level. Her response to a colleague who said he wasn’t paid to like the kids? The kids can tell.2. Linda Cliatt-Wayman: â€Å"How to Fix a Broken School†Her answer to this question? â€Å"Lead fearlessly, love hard.† This principal of a once-failing North Philadelphia school has a lot to say about the com plexities of running â€Å"low performing and persistently dangerous† schools and how a true love of the students is the only foundation for any change.3. Sakena Yacoobi: â€Å"How I stopped the Taliban from shutting down my school†The Taliban shut down every girls’ school in Afghanistan. Yacoobi set up new ones- secret schools to educate thousands of girls and boys. This inspirational talk shows just what a teacher is capable of in the face of terrifying obstacles.4. Nadia Lopez: â€Å"Why open a school? To close a prison.†Lopez is the founder of Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brownsville, Brooklyn- one of the most violent and underserved neighborhoods of New York City. Here, she talks about finding out what each child is capable of and how they can plan for a bright future.5. Christopher Emdin: â€Å"Teach teachers how to create magic†Emdin’s focus is making learning come alive. Whatever gets a kid interested and engaged allows you to teach- anything from rap songs to barbershop banter to church sermons. He’s also the founder of Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. with GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.6. Ramsey Musallam: â€Å"3 rules to spark learning†Musallam was jarred awake after 10 years of what he calls â€Å"pseudo teaching† by surgery and the surgeon who saved his life. Here, he talks about the three principles he used to turn his classroom around.7. Fawn Qiu: â€Å"Easy DIY projects for kid engineers†Trying to figure out how to get kids into STEM? Qiu’s practical advice gives great ideas to teachers hoping to find low-cost, innovative ideas for projects for students of all levels to get them excited by STEM fields.8. Reshma Saujani: â€Å"Teach girls bravery, not perfection†Girls are often socialized to be perfect- and not just that, but to meet impossible standards of perfection. If they feel they can’t live up to these impossible ideals, they’ll often give up. Saujani wants to teach girls to respond to challenges with bravery and confidence.9. Eduardo Briceà ±o: â€Å"How to get better at the things you care about†No matter how much you want to be good at something, there will always come a time when your work will stagnate, no matter how persistently you’re working. These times require a bit of extra determination. Briceà ±o also offers up a strategy- alternating between learning and performance modes- to keep things fresh and forward moving.10. Stephen Ritz: â€Å"A teacher growing green in the South Bronx†A tree grows in the Bronx? Ritz focuses on urban landscaping and agricultural projects that help his students learn new skills effortlessly while improving an underserved community’s access to nutritious food. He’ll help you learn how to think outside the box. Prepare to be inspired.