Alignment: What is Important?

Social studies education to tends to be taught from a historical perspective that focus on facts and figues, and names and dates.  Though this information IS very important, the chances that students will retain information taught in this way is very unlikely.  It is far more likely that students will recall patterns, social implications, and associations with current events if that becomes the focus of teaching.  Instead of saying there was a Native American uprising in August of 1862, known as the Dakota War and there were intense battles between Dakota Indians and Minnesota militia for several months.  History teachers need to focus on the implications of events for future generations of Minnesotans.  The Dakota War of 1862 was a defining moment in Minnesota and federal government policy regarding Native Americans, because it caused tension and distrust between both groups of people.  The locations of current reservations, the names of streets, towns, and parks all come from this time period.  Basically, history taught as a series static events that took place hundreds of years ago simply isn't interesting to many kids.  Kids need to be taught that everything is interconnected and that events in history aren't separate from things today.  Making connections should be the MOST important aspect of every lesson taught in a history classroom.