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What would happen if social studies was not taught in schools?

Social studies is a broad term, but it generally encompasses history and geography, along with various other humanistic subjects. The purpose of social studies courses is to help students become citizens who are informed and can contribute to the benefit of society, particularly through political and civic engagement.


For instance, George Santayana famously said that "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." If students did not learn about history, they would not recognize that the problems society faces today are often similar (though never exactly the same) to problems from the past. By studying how people responded to those problems in the past, students will grow into citizens who can make informed decisions when they face problems in the present and future. Moreover, geography teaches students important lessons about the world in which they live. This can help them make good decisions about political topics such as climate change and energy policies.

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