History: A Dying Field

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History: Rejuvenating a Dying Field History is dedicated to those who went before us, so that, upon reflection, we can learn from them, without repeating their mistakes, experiencing or inflicting their pain. This quote, attributed to an anonymous source, showcases the deep understanding that all people should have. Without this direct insight, a generation will be ignorant to the hardships of their past, and will end up in a cycle of failure. This is why history is so vitally important to our society; because we must look back in order to keep moving forward. History should be studied because it is essential to individuals and to society, and because it harbors beauty (Stearns). It is not some meager thing to sit on a shelf and ignore, but a bountiful treasure trove of wisdom. Sadly, it seems that our generation has become so engulfed in the highlight of the here and now that we have neglected learning about our ancestors. Educators of history, whether it is American, European, or another, are the key to helping students progress not only as scholars of the field, but as worldly human beings. Without the proper knowledge and guidance, history repeats itself. How do history teachers shape students to educate them about the past and keep the mistakes of our predecessors from happening again? Students often see no relationship between their own lives and the past. Our culture’s emphasis on the push forward towards a better, modern, or post-modern future makes history seem irrelevant to them (Poska). Many students breeze through school without taking a single glance at history. They pass it off as a useless class that they’ll never need, or they take it simply for the credits. Unfortunately, this is a skewed view of the subject b... ... middle of paper ... ...-conflict>. http://www2.css.edu/app/depts/his/historyjournal/index.cfm?cat=6&art=30 Adele-Spratt, Yvette. "Thoughts On How History Teachers Can Positively Impact Student Race Relations." Www2.css.edu. Ed. Susan E. Smith. The College of St. Scholastica. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. . http://www.historians.org/pubs/free/WhyStudyHistory.htm Stearns, Peter N. "Why Study History?" Www.historians.org. American Historical Association, 11 July 2008. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. . http://www.mcm.edu/academic/depts/history/career.htm Pace, Robert F. "Careers for History Majors." Www.mcm.edu. McMurray University. Web. 16 Feb. 2012. . Zolnak, Eric. "Interview with Mr. Eric Zolnak." E-mail interview. 20 Feb. 2012.

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