Why do we Need History in High Schools?

There have been several times over the past semester where something we have discussed in class has come up at my partner school (which I find very exciting!). In Monday's EDUC 311 class we discussed the importance (or lack of importance) of History as a topic in high school. In the History 30 class I attend at my partner school, the teacher has a weekly routine of covering current events on Thursdays. The students must find an article every week that pertains to either a local, provincial or national event or issue that has taken place or has been discussed over the last seven days, summarize the article and write a brief reflection. On Tuesday, one of the students asked why they have to look at current events when the course is supposed to be about History. Since we had been discussing the topic a day earlier, I decided to answer him. I used the example of the pope's resignation. The current event the students choose must have a Canadian connection, and a Canadian may be in the running to be the next pope. I explained that the event made history, even though it took place today. We may not recognize the significance of an event when it's happening, but in the future we will be able to understand why they are important.

In hindsight, I should have given some more examples of the significance of current events such as Idle No More, the induction of standardized testing in Saskatchewan, and the debate over the Keystone pipeline. Events and issues such as these will shift the way our country functions over time. When I come across that question again (and I'm sure I will) I will have a better answer prepared.

There are times I find the disconnect between university and my partner school experience disheartening. We are discouraged to use simple read and recall questions, but these activities are very common in high schools. I see the students become bored, and I feel as though routine activities are what makes students dislike the school experience. When I read Dummitt's "Finding a Place for the Father: Selling the Barbecue in Postwar Canada," I wondered why text such as this is rarely used in high schools. Sometimes I have a hard time discerning what level high school students are at, but I feel that this article, at least, would be feasible to create questions that would elicit thought and have students questioning concepts such as gender roles and how they have changed over time. This article includes what I consider the "fun" part of history. The topics in Dummitt's article pertain to everyone in some way - gender roles, cooking roles, family roles - there is endless opportunity for discussion.

Standardized testing will likely increase the amount of "recall" knowledge students are expected to learn, but there MUST be a place for critical thinking skills! At least history has taught me that, even if it takes an extremely long time, change will occur. I suspect school systems function in the same way.