PARENT TO PARENT

A: Since your son is doing well in his other subjects, I'm going to guess that learning is not the problem. Also, since you speak of difficulty in more than one social studies course, I think we can eliminate personality issues. It sounds like his inability to grasp the concepts is at the root of the problem. I have heard many students complain about various social studies / history courses in the same way - they are an odd collection of disjointed, boring, meaningless facts.

I remember feeling the same way in high school. I also found it confusing and boring, even in direct conflict with what I had learned outside of school. However, once I got to college, I found history to be completely different. It was fascinating, and I had so much fun with it I took a few extra courses and ended up minoring in it.

So, what is wrong with high school history? There is nothing wrong with the schools or the courses. This is not something that can be blamed on anyone, but is the nature of the subject. From the beginning of human existence, through all our evolution and development, we have been a species of extremes. For all the magnificent things humankind has developed, for all the wonderful progress we have made, there has been an equal amount of evil and brutality. In short, human history is X-rated. It is violent, morbid and disgusting. If teachers tried to tell the whole truth, if our children's textbooks printed the complete picture, somebody would get in serious trouble.

Additionally, I am continually amazed at the number of students who seem to be wandering through school blind, with no idea as to why they are there, except that it's the law. This is nothing new, of course. I remember when a student, in my own high school classes, would ask a teacher why we had to learn something. The sad answer was usually, "Because I have to teach it." No student is going to be excited about school if they don't have a reason to be there. Sometimes just reminding someone that a particular course is important is enough to rekindle the desire to learn.

I get tremendous response from students when I take the time to tell them the truth. First, it helps them see that they are not the problem, so the worry and stress diminish dramatically. Once they are free of the feeling that they are at fault, they can focus on what to do about the problem. Also, realizing that they are talking with an adult, an educator for that matter, who is treating them with respect and dignity, often turns on the willingness to wake back up to learning.

Remember high school history is just an introduction to "the real thing". Have faith, learn the facts, and accept that it often seems disjointed or meaningless. This is really no different from learning the letters of the alphabet in preparation for reading. The individual letters have no meaning until they are put together to make words. In the same way, basic facts and events in history may not have much meaning until they are put into a bigger picture, which will come later. And, just as learning the letters is essential to reading, so is learning basic facts in high school social studies and history courses essential to understanding history on a broader level. If your son understands that he is, in effect, collecting pieces of a puzzle that he can put together later, it may make learning easier. When students realize that there is no complete picture, they don't feel so lost and helpless, and they can focus on learning the facts they need to know.

Just talking with your son may be enough for him to figure out what to focus on in his social studies courses. Perhaps you can continue working with him on a solution, and together the two of you can figure out how he can improve his learning techniques. Finally, don't forget to involve his teacher! Sit down with your son and draw up an outline of what you believe are his problems. Set up an appointment to meet with his teacher and take your notes with you. Ask for specific ideas to help him overcome these problems. I wouldn't recommend going in blind. High school teachers have a lot of students, and although most try very hard to get to know them, it takes awhile. You, as the parent, know your child best. You can help the teacher help you by bringing as much information with you as you can.

In the end, don't forget that history is an argument (as in debate, not childish denial) waiting to be explored. There are always at least two sides to an argument, often more. A history course offers one perspective, so a student may disagree with what is being taught. That is a good thing, as long as one remembers that grades are based on what is learned, not opinions of right and wrong. Arguing with the teacher over the details won't help; learning the details will.

I hope this helps,
Michele

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