Real Life Lessons from Social Studies

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July 4th E Pluribus Unum
Fireworks, parades, family, and barbecues (BBQ here in the South). These are staples of the July 4th holiday. As Americans are celebrating a major historical event, I'm compelled to consider the importance of education...especially the teaching of social studies in Elementary and Middle School years. Unfortunately, we are losing social studies due to the pressures of high stakes standardized testing.

Social Studies is the study of life. It is the study of how humans adapt and modify life on Earth. How cultures, governments, and communities shape life and thought. July 4th is commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. This historical document expressed and codified ideas that helped revolutionize how we think about life, liberty, and government. The signors of this document were expressing support for ideas that were evolving for many years from many cultures. The ideas have been tossed around and revised for millennia from Cleisthenes and Plato to John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and even Immanuel Kant. All of these philosophers, and countless more, expressed ideas that contributed to the modern idea that we are all better off with informed justice, free pursuit of happiness, and respect for life.
Social Studies instruction

Math, science, and language arts are inarguably important. Social studies is the same. Though state governments don't hold schools as accountable for teaching social studies...we must hold each other accountable for it. Without social studies, where will our younger generations learn the following:
  • A passionate pursuit for equality and liberty.
  • The beauty of difference in people, families, communities, and culture.
  • The belief that justice is fundamental to happiness and is based on law and reason.
  • The dangers of misinformed decision making
  • The benefits of solving-problems in ways that value life, property, and liberty.
  • Limiting the powers of governing bodies so as not to oppress the lives and freedoms of all.
Tradition and culture shape what and how we celebrate holidays. They make holidays beautiful expressions of communities. This July 4th, enjoy your family, freedoms, and community. And remember, these all are supported by continuing to teach and learn the social studies.

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