Rethinking History Education W/ Scott Powell & Heather Schwarz
Feb 2, 2024
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Scott Powell and Heather Schwarz discuss the importance of history education and present centrism. They explore the challenges of creating comprehensive and relevant curriculums, the significance of an integrated historical foundation from a young age, and the debate surrounding multiculturalism in history education. They also delve into the development of a rotating curriculum, the failures of history education, and different approaches to teaching history, including a focus on ancient Greece and an interconnected view of the world.
Present centrism is an innovative approach to teaching history that integrates the past and present, emphasizing the role of history in understanding the complexity of the present world.
A present centric curriculum provides students with a holistic understanding of history by covering major cultural blocks and prioritizing the significance of certain cultures, fostering critical thinking and connective skills.
While studying ancient civilizations like ancient Greece is valuable, present centrism ensures a balanced approach by integrating the study of other significant cultures that contribute to the present global context.
The present-centric approach views history as an interconnected whole, guiding the curriculum across grade levels and empowering students to make connections and derive meaning from historical events.
Present centrism integrates history with other subjects, combining literature, philosophy, natural science, and history to cultivate a methodological understanding and empower students to comprehend the complexity of the present world they live in.
Deep dives
The Importance of Present Centrism in History Education
Present centrism is an innovative approach to teaching history that aims to integrate the past and present. It challenges the notion that history is a dry and irrelevant subject by emphasizing its role in understanding the world we live in today. By starting with the present as an anchor point, students are able to grasp the complexity of the world and develop a meaningful context for studying history. Present centrism also addresses the shortcomings of social studies, which often lacks integration and fails to teach students to think critically and use their minds. It seeks to provide students with an integrated understanding of the world and the ability to make connections between past and present.
The Benefits of a Present Centric Curriculum
In a present centric curriculum, the focus is on providing students with an integrated and holistic view of history. The curriculum covers all major cultural blocks of the world, while also prioritizing the importance of certain cultures based on their historical significance. This approach allows students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the world and its history. By exploring the present and past together, students are able to connect the dots, understand causality, and develop critical thinking skills. Additionally, present centrism allows for flexibility, as the curriculum can evolve to reflect the changing world and its priorities.
Balancing the Study of Ancient Greece and Modern Relevance
While present centrism recognizes the importance of studying cultures that have a significant impact on the world today, it also acknowledges the value of exploring ancient civilizations like ancient Greece. Ancient Greece offers a unique historical context that allows students to investigate how this culture shaped the world and its subsequent impact. By studying ancient Greece, students can understand the origins of democracy, philosophy, and other fundamental aspects of modern society. However, the present centrism approach ensures that the focus is not solely on ancient cultures, but also integrates the study of other significant cultures that contribute to the present global context.
Present Centrism: A Holistic Approach to Understanding History
Present Centrism proposes that history should be understood as an interconnected whole, rather than isolated segments of study. It emphasizes the importance of viewing the world as an agglomeration of nearly 200 countries organized into 10 major cultural blocks, with the United States playing a predominant role. This approach is introduced as early as third grade, with students understanding the significance of this framework and how it empowers their understanding of the world. It is a comprehensive perspective that guides the curriculum throughout all grade levels, enabling students to make connections and derive meaning from historical events.
Integrating History with Context and Relevance
The present-centric approach aims to integrate history with other subjects and establish relevance for students. It acknowledges the value of combining literature, philosophy, natural science, and history to demonstrate the interrelation of these topics. The goal is to cultivate a methodological understanding of how to study history, which can be applied to different time periods and cultures. By incorporating various subjects and emphasizing context, students can develop a deeper understanding of cultures and their components. This broad integration is designed to provide students with the tools to interpret and comprehend the complexity of the present world they live in.
Heather Schwarz and Scott Powell are co-founders of the online school Knowable World.
Embark on a journey through time with Scott Powell and Heather Schwartz as we unravel how a deep understanding of history can illuminate the complexities of today's world. Scott, with his books "The History of Now" and "The History of Tomorrow," deftly challenges the notion of present centrism, while Heather's Knowable World curriculum seeks to arm the younger generation with the historical context needed to navigate modern global events. Together, we dissect the integration of history and social studies, pondering how we can transform education to help students grasp the underpinnings of current world affairs and become well-informed citizens.
Throughout our conversation, we address the challenges educators face in creating curriculums that are both comprehensive and relevant. The traditional approach to teaching history often leaves students adrift in a sea of disconnected facts, but through the lens of present centrism, we propose a more structured methodology. We discuss the idea of a three-year rotating curriculum covering major cultural blocks and delve into the delicate balance between celebrating multicultural narratives and understanding the weight of pivotal historical events.
As we pull back the curtain on various educational approaches, we spotlight the importance of instilling a strong historical foundation from a young age. From the influence of Ancient Greece to the significance of China, we explore how these rich cultural histories shape our understanding of the world. In closing, we underscore the need for empowering curricula that encourage critical thinking and provide third graders through to twelfth graders with the tools to interpret their world. Discover how history, when taught with a present-centric view, can lead to a more interconnected and insightful perspective on the world we share.
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