Every subjects in academic curriculum have a role it plays in student lives. A school is known to be an institution of acquisition of knowledge and skills. This definition is only based on what a school means in the surface, in schools subject like social studies and civic education are also thought to enable a student to learn about discipline and other areas of life that matters. I mean each subject is created to serve a particular purpose, it is not just for examination only but what will be the point of acquiring knowledge without knowing how to act in the society?
When it comes to history studies in most schools, it is a subject that is gradually going extinct especially in secondary schools. During those days when I was still in secondary school it used to be a general subject and in some schools it is offered by art and commercial students. It was never my favourite if I'm being honest, it looks similar to subject like government and civic education in some ways. The most distinctive thing about history is that it is pertaining to actual date and years of different occurrence throughout history, it has more details about history compared to other subjects.
I believe one of the primary reason why the subject exist in the academic curriculum was to ensure student learn about past history about different historical events but then as time goes on most schools started considering its relevance when we have other subject like government and civic education that also serves the same purpose like it does. Over time the academic syllabus is always reviewed to ensure only subject that are relevance to students are being taught in schools. It is without doubt that history studies has lost his relevance in most schools and it is something that has been happening for awhile.
I was never opportune to take history as a subject, in fact I never wished I did. It became an elective subject in my school when I was in jss2 and gradually we no longer heard of it and just like that it vanishes. Based on how it is no longer a subject taught in most schools, you might think it is no longer relevant, I mean does learning about past history about achievements and mistakes of our predecessor not something worth learning? The reality is times are changing and I'm quite sure a lot of consideration has been put in place by the academic board of most schools before decisions were made to remove history from the curriculum.
Indeed there are historical events of the past that can be thought through history but I strongly believe that since we have other subject with the same content such has history being thought, Subjects that serves as a perfect substitute for history then what is the point of history studies, if there is any student who which to know more about the history of their country, such information are already available online and for those who are passionate about choosing it as career path can decide to further more in higher institution.
If I'm being honest, even few history of our country that are being taught in schools these days are not being put into consideration by most students. Looking at our present society I wouldn't say it has done us any good, I mean it was being thought in the past but what are the productive results to show for it. Corruption is still on rampage, we are still busy making the same mistakes just like our past leaders, the only difference now is we have develop more effective ways to engage in dubious activities.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled "Knowing first Aid" in hive learners community.
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