Social Studies and Me
Education has, and continues to be, my greatest passion. Growing up, my family emphasized the importance of school, and I was privileged to attend one of the best districts in my state. Because of this, I feel as though my experiences with social studies were applaudable. My elementary school social studies experiences included hands-on group projects, researching and debating current events, discussing cultures other than my own, and more. However, I do feel as though I was often provided with only one “side” of the story; that is, the historical perspectives I was taught through were Anglo-centric. I wish that my teachers had taught me more than just the names of the civil rights movement — Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. Perhaps my teachers could have done a better job introducing me to the wrongdoings of the heroes of the American past rather than simply glorifying what these figures happened to do right.
My goal as a social studies teacher, then, is to avoid lying to my students by omission. To truly understand the history, cultures, and background of our country and others, children need to be provided with information from multiple perspectives. More importantly, they need to be given opportunities to engage with information skeptically. I feel as though my teachers could have taught me more by introducing multiple perspectives, encouraging me to think critically about events, thoughts, and ideas. In fact, I think by not being taught how to evaluate readings, laws, and opinions, I viewed my role as a citizen of the United States as a right rather than a privilege. To be an effective citizen, participation is key. This was not something I was taught. Now, I see it as my job as a teacher and citizen to ensure that my students are aware of the great privilege their citizenship is, especially being allowed the freedoms and participations they are.
Luckily, interest in the world compelled me to discover other perspectives on topics in the social studies. I would even argue that I formed my own perspective on citizenship rather than basing it on what I was taught in elementary school and high school government class. While I appreciate the projects and discussions that my teachers did provide, I do believe that the missing links I’ve identified will be necessary staples in my classroom. To be an effective teacher is to teach the entire story, rather than present only one side. Then, I’ll be supporting my students in determining how they interpret information from the social studies.