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The Power of the Past to Teach us About the Present

Sitting down in my high school history class sometimes felt like such a chore. It was easy to feel like I would rather be doing a science experiment or solving math problems instead of reading an old history textbook. However, research in educational sciences shows that history is incredibly important despite being often overlooked. Continue reading to understand more about the impacts of learning about history!

History is a subject in school that helps us understand historical narratives and different perspectives. History can help develop important thinking skills, such as understanding different cultures and societies, using evidence from primary and secondary sources, and recognizing the history behind concepts created in the past that are still relevant today (e.g., parliament). In fact, research shows that the more people learn about history, the more they are able to recognize and identify inequality and injustice happening now.

Historical education is also important for developing “historical consciousness.” Historical consciousness is the recognition of one’s place within the past, present, and future. Learning about the past helps students recognize issues in the present, which enables them to think of solutions for the future. It can answer questions such as, “Why is it important that I vote in the next election?” It can even answer silly questions like, “Why don’t people wear top hats anymore?” This approach to learning can also increase students’ interest in history, as understanding history helps people make sense of the world around them and is incredibly relevant to the world today. But in reality, not many schools use this idea of historical consciousness, with research showing that only 7% of students see history as something that helps them understand the world today.

Not everyone finds history to be important, and it is a subject that’s being valued less and less in education. History standardized test scores in the United States have been dropping over time; only 13% of eighth-grade students qualified as “proficient” in history in 2022. Less people are interested in studying history in college too, with undergraduate enrollment in history majors decreasing in the United States. Why is this trend happening? Well, research shows that students develop either an ‘intimate’ or ‘external’ relationship with history. Students with an “intimate” type find historical education to be important and relevant to their lives and the world today. ‘External’ types, however, see history as something in the past that no longer matters.

One reason why many students aren’t interested in learning about history is that they don’t get why it is important. One study interviewed over 150 middle school students and found that many students think history is only important for jobs like becoming a history teacher. Another study found that only 17% of students believed history classes could teach them skills they could use elsewhere. Research shows that few students believe that there is an important, intrinsic value to learning about history. In fact, many surveyed students could not explain why learning about history is important because they had never learned why!

So, what can we do to make historical education more meaningful? One way is for teachers to clearly explain why learning about history is important. Using historical consciousness in the classroom can help with this! Researchers highlight three ways to do this. First, history classes should help students recognize that everyone has a personal history. People are shaped by the environment and community that they were raised in, which were likely affected by important events and issues throughout history. Exploring one’s own history can make learning more meaningful! Secondly, history classes should use history to better understand the world today, such as by teaching how current events are intertwined with historical events or by having students contextualize the news. Third, students can also learn that they are also a part of history, and that history is happening in the present moment. This can help students understand that their present may eventually be taught in history classes.

Ultimately, making history classes more engaging, such as using interactive activities or reading about current events instead of just memorization, can make learning more fun and get more people interested in exploring history! History can also be used in science classes to get a better idea of how science has developed over time, helping students see how science was done in the past and how science is making progress today. Ultimately, by learning about history, you’re not just getting facts about the past. You are also sharpening your critical thinking skills and learning how to better understand and engage with the world around you today!

Recommended reading:

Haydn, T., & Harris, R. (2010). Pupil perspectives on the purposes and benefits of studying history in high school: A view from the UK. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 42(2), 241–261.

Nuttall, D. (2021). ‘What is the purpose of studying history? Developing students’ perspectives on the purposes and value of history education’. History Education Research Journal, 18 (1), 89–108.

Van Straaten, D., Wilschut, A., & Oostdam, R. (2016). Making history relevant to students by connecting past, present and future: A framework for research. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 48(4), 479-502.

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