The Importance of Studying History

I started realising my mistakes when I graduated from Secondary school, how I didn't take the history subject seriously and how I had thought it was for the art students only. Everything I didn't learn then were things I started looking up on the internet today to keep me abreast and informed of what happened in the past and how things are doing in the present.

I am so glad when I have to incorporate some of the things I learned when talking to people or giving my speech to younger children. This helps them to understand how things were done long ago and see the difference it has made in this time.

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History is an essential subject and I believe it deserves a place of high importance in the school curriculum - one that shouldn't be scrapped out at all. Studying history is more than a look back at dates and events; it's a way to look at the patterns, decisions and progress that have shaped humanity.

It's so interesting and fun when we have to study the achievements and mistakes of those before us as this helps us gain some insights into human behaviours, societal evolution and the aftermath of certain actions of these choices, and when we have to understand this, these insights are invaluable in guiding the present and future decisions.

When we learn about the past achievements of great people, some of, whom we would call heroes, we find them inspiring. Reading up or listening to stories of scientific discoveries, social movements and acts of courage, all remind us of the potential humans have and the spirit of resilience they exhibit. Meanwhile, when we study the mistakes and conflicts from the past, they remind us of the consequences of poor decisions and unchecked power.

When we recognise these patterns, it can help prevent us from repeating the same mistakes which could be destructive and encourage us to think critically and make thoughtful decisions in fields like politics, science and social justice.

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Studying history provides students with a deep reservoir of knowledge that can strengthen critical thinking, promote cultural understanding, foster a sense of identity and introduce 'empathy' as a great quality in dealing with humans while helping them to navigate today's interconnected world.

So, I believe the history subject shouldn't be one to be removed from the school curriculum because of its importance in today's world. The school boards should indeed take history classes more seriously today, but not overload the students with dates and names. This could make it hard when students are mandated to cram all dates and names, forgetting the real events and how they happened and taking away the juicy part of picking some inspiring messages from them.

History should be presented as a narrative that will help them think about who they are in society, where they have been and where they might go. A well-designed historical education can empower young people to be well-informed and become conscious citizens who actively contribute to a greater future.

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