How Do We Teach History to Today’s Kids?

When I was in school, history was taught through books and lectures. I learned names, dates, places, and events, but now, many years later, those details escape me. As we were preparing for our recent travels with our grandsons, I realized how little I actually knew aside from the basic facts. I realized that visiting those places as part of our travels with our grandsons this summer would be as much a learning experience for me as it was for them. It was eye- and mind-opening to walk the Freedom Trail, to learn more about the Salem Witch Trials, to interact with content at the various museums, or to stand on the grounds of the Gettysburg battlefields. I hope that Jace and Jayden will remember their travels when they continue to learn in school about the history of our country.

Social studies, like science, math, and language arts, is essential in a school’s curriculum. (So are the arts and physical education.) Social studies standards for our youngest students focus on a sense of self, then on their family and their community and working outward to their state, nation, and then the world. Within social studies, though, the National Council for Social Studies framework organizes the standards into ten themes such as Culture, Global Connections, and Civic Ideals and Practices. It can be overwhelming to find the time to address these standards especially for an elementary teacher with many conflicting priorities during the day.

Oftentimes, as well, we view history through one set of lens. Teaching history is complicated. There is more than one perspective to issues, and we don’t know how the events impacted the people who were living during that period of time. Sharing this slide show (thanks, Esther!) and discussing each slide helped Jace and Jayden to realize that not all colonists wanted to fight the British. They also realized the sacrifices and impact of war on people, ordinary families whose lives were suddenly disrupted by events over which they had no control, people like the Shriver family who lived in Gettysburg or family members who fought on opposite sides during the Civil War.

We cannot change history; it is in the past. We can educate ourselves and learn what others went through at the time by visiting museums, reading books, or watching videos, but we cannot experience what the people involved went through. When we discuss history, we need to ask questions and research to find answers, and we need to discuss why the events unfolded as they did. We need to understand the impact of events on the people who were affected and discuss how those events impact us today.

And we must vow to learn from the mistakes of our past. Unfortunately, I am not confident that we have done so. There was a wall at Salem Witch Museum that stated “Fear + Trigger = Scapegoat.” How many examples can we think of from our country’s history that had its beginnings in fear? Is it still happening today? Why is it important to not repeat our mistakes from the past?

I know that our recent travel experiences to Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. have made me think much more deeply about our country’s history. I realize that if our forefathers had not had the courage to break away from Britain and fight to create a new nation, our own history would be much different than it is today. That’s what I want Jace and Jayden to realize.