Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Why do some curricula contain history courses while others call it social studies? This week on Home School Heartbeat, Rob Shearer, homeschooling dad and the owner of Greenleaf Press, shares his thoughts with Mike Smith.

Mike:


Rob, thank you very much for joining us today. As we get into this subject, it seems to me that some people in homeschooling just don't seem to think history is that important to study. What do you think about that?


Rob:


Well, unfortunately the government schools don't really have a good reason for teaching history anymore because the government program has moved education largely in the direction of just vocational training. As Christians, I think from our perspective and our worldview, we know that education is about far more than just training kids for a job. It's about helping them to acquire godly character, helping them to grow up to be godly men and women with some wisdom that they probably acquired along the way. And history is a vital tool in the service of that past. We want our children to know what God has done, how He has touched peoples lives. How He has worked through them and used individuals to build His kingdom.


Mike:


You seem to be talking about history as more character training. Is there a difference between history and social studies?


Rob:


Oh, absolutely! Social studies is the government school substitute for history. Social studies is all about impersonal forces and unit studies on government helpers and how the policemen and the firemen are your friend. History is the story of real people. History's what grabs kids' imagination. They love hearing the stories about what people have done, how they have made a difference, how they have helped shape the course of events, and how God has used them.


Mike:


Thank you, Rob. Until next time, I'm Mike Smith.