Why do you think schools teach history?

[Sugar Pea 2,683]

I believe it's because it gives us a look at what the world has gone through up until today. I think it's fun to gaze into the past, and imagine what it may have been like to live in that era. 
Although, I think that some of the stuff mentioned through history is kinda exaggerated, it's also really amusing.

Your opinion? No bashing each other, please.
 

Edited May 26, 2014 by Princess PeachBlink

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

So we do not repeat it. We teach it in the hope that the new generation will learn from the mistakes of the past.

[Andaasonsan 3,205]

We'll there is the fact that you'll come across as a moron in conversations with semi-intelligent people if you don't know basic history.

 

Basically that.

[CT-1138 3,184]

Because knowing where we come from helps us prepare for the future. I think history is important to be learned because I'm a firm believer that those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Dinos4Ever

[Ryzu 984]

So we don't make the ridiculously stupid mistakes the people from the past did. Most people think it's useless, they'd never do that, but then every day they see stuff like bullying... : P

[Nulln 755]

To explain why things are what they are today.  Why we have the laws we have, how people have handled things in the past, how people have failed at things in the past.  

[TheSupremeLeaderOfChaos 1,216]

So we do not repeat it. We teach it in the hope that the new generation will learn from the mistakes of the past.

Basically that. History has been known to repeat itself often, the same mistakes over and over again. We learn history so that we would be smart enough to not do the same.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

I think it's meant to help us remember where we've come from, the progress we've made as a society, as well as the mistakes. Also to help us appreciate what we have, when we think about what it took to get us here.

 

But yes, unfortunately, history is very exaggerated. Every society records its history to make itself look better. It's just the way people are.

 

And of course, people have a tendency of always thinking that where we are now is better than where we used to be in every way. As if every change in society is for the best. But really, it's not. It's just inconvenient for people to entertain the thought that we could be making mistakes as a society.

 

But I'll spare you from my rant on that idea. Y'know, unless you want to hear it.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,882]

So they can feed us propaganda and make America look like the greatest thing since sliced bread

 

Getting serious, I can't provide an accurate answer. I don't know why they teach Science, either. There's subjects like those that you're mandated to take when it's only going to help you if you work in that field. I don't think there should be any required courses and that you should begin taking classes that are preparing you for a career when you enter high school, kind of like a major of sorts, except much less rigorous than college That's my personal belief on this, at least.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

So they can feed us propaganda and make America look like the greatest thing since sliced bread

 

It's funny because it's truer than we'd like to admit. Same for basically every country. 

[Khaoios 1,970]

Oh boy.........i don't know about most of you, but I adore history, .   Yet there are several reasons why, such as to learn about our origin, as in early civilizations, religions, ethnicity, etc.  It also teaches us who we are "today" and how we came to be.  I can go on forever on why, but mainly its those two mentioned.

 

So we do not repeat it. We teach it in the hope that the new generation will learn from the mistakes of the past.

 

I also want to include what Miaq said.   Its also to teach us to learn from our mistakes, and I can tell you, the biggest mistake the US made was interfering in Vietnam, and to this day, many US citizens have that synced in, to remember that those young individuals who died there should've never went and that they should've stayed here and enjoy life.  It was mostly the "fear" of communism that politicians felt which made them interfere in Vietnam.    Sadly, i think of one of my uncles who was there as well (God rest his soul), and if he were still alive today, he would say, Vietnam was a mistake and the blame should be on the politicians. 

[Nulln 755]

So they can feed us propaganda and make America look like the greatest thing since sliced bread

 

Getting serious, I can't provide an accurate answer. I don't know why they teach Science, either. There's subjects like those that you're mandated to take when it's only going to help you if you work in that field. I don't think there should be any required courses and that you should begin taking classes that are preparing you for a career when you enter high school, kind of like a major of sorts, except much less rigorous than college That's my personal belief on this, at least.

You need science so you can learn about how the world works.  It teaches you about what goes on in your body, the environment, animals, everything in our world.

[DubWolf 20,687]

Heh, they probably needed a fourth subject of the Social Studies variety, so they thought, "hey, what about history?"

 

I wonder how long history class was in the 1800s xD.

 

In all seriousness, I think it would be a shame if people were unaware of the past of their own country.

[Sugar Pea 2,683]

You need science so you can learn about how the world works.  It teaches you about what goes on in your body, the environment, animals, everything in our world.

I like science, it's so weiiird. Also very intriguing.

[ReverseFaller 2,484]

Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. Yet those who do know it still often times do repeat it. As Ryuk once said "Humans are so interesting."

[Freeze-Frame 100]

Those who don't learn from history are dimmed to repeat it.

 

Too bad one of my history teachers is a huge leftist, so I guess she doesn't really care if communism destroys another country.

[Shanks 10,817]

So they can feed us propaganda and make America look like the greatest thing since sliced bread

You sure are right about the propaganda part, schools haven't taught real history for a very long time but I think it is much bigger than just simply making America look good. History is knowledge and knowledge is power and the establishment has a vested interest in presenting the public a sanitized and spin doctored version of history as part of a broader effort to dumb down us down. They want everyone smart enough to turn the levers yet brain washed enough to accept the corrupt farce of a system we are in now. If the public had a firmer grasp on history than I don't think the banks, major corporations and their puppet politicians would be able to get away with even half the crap they are doing now. Ron Paul has warned us about the current financial situation and foreign policy blunder for over 30 years but how did he know any of this would happen? He knew because he understands history as it is and not how it is marketed in the brain washing factories that pass for school these days.

[Felix 1,363]

As some have mentioned it's to make sure we don't make the same mistakes, but another reason is for the same reason a lot of things are taught. So we can use it to our advantage if we get caught up in the career. As far as History goes, it would help us research and learn more about our past through what we find.

[Apologies.MC 50]

Multiple reasons I think

 

>so mistake aren't repeated (but considering they sometimes ARE repeated this reason is flimsy at best)

>So we can see how we got where we are today

>So we can move forward

[DokiLoki 519]

Probably because its ''interesting'' and we get to know how humans acted like back then. 

[deadprofile 1,123]

American schools don't teach real history. "History is written by the victors"....and those who have enough to "change" it.....I stopped my college dream to be a history teacher when I learned how messed up and falsifying being a history teacher is.  

[EpicEnergy 23,259]

So that kids can learn from the past and remember what happened. Also so that they can know how the modern world and the nations in it got where they are today.

[TBD 17,276]

Aside from “learning from politics mistakes” which is quite unrealistic at some point, it’s just part of course requirements.. 

Me on the hand, I take it because of my love for history. Since obviously it teaches you how the world is today.

[碇 シンジン 27,442]

Because if you don't know where you came from it is impossible to determine where or what you are going towards to when moving forward