Why We Teach History

We’re beginning a segment of episodes exploring specific topics in the domain of academics. In today’s episode, history teacher Michael Martin explores the foundations of why we include history in our curriculum. We rely on history, which for Michael includes divine revelation, to answer the following questions: 

• Who are we? 

• Where we are going? 

• What we are doing? 

• What we could become? 

Our history teachers wield great power, or at least they could. Michael makes the case that we must access this power for the sacred work of shaping the worldviews of our children. He leaves us with something of a commission for evaluating our history curriculum.  

• How do we know our history teaching is working? When our children choose to suffer with the people of God rather than enjoying the pleasures of sins for a season.  

• How do we measure success in history teaching? When our children see God as the center of history. 

Links 

• This presentation was initially published as "Why Teach History?" at https://thedockforlearning.org/lecture/why-teach-history/   

• Other presentations from CASBI 2019: https://thedockforlearning.org/series/christian-school-administration-institute-2019/   

• Find more resources that support teaching and learning at https://thedockforlearning.org/.