Values of Teaching Social Sciences

“The instruction in social studies should promote the values and ideals of humanism, secularism,
socialism and democracy. It should inculcate attitudes and impart the knowledge necessary for
achievement of the principal values of a world order, maximization of ecological stability.”

Introduction
Social studies is a subject of the school curriculum that is not only helpful in the proper social
development of the students but also contribute significantly towards the progress of the society and
promotion of the national solidarity and international understanding. Its teaching, as we observe
occupies an important place in the school curriculum of our country. Have you ever thought about the
reason behind it? Why is it so that the study of social studies is being considered quite essential and
important to the students of elementary and secondary classes? The answers to such queries may be
sought through the analysis if the values or advantages drawn by the teaching and learning of social
studies in these report.
Social Value -2

Social studies by definition in itself is a subject relation to the study of society and social
relationship. With its study one can properly get acquainted with the social structure, organization
and process related to one’s social environment. It teaches one the significance and need of
maintaining social harmony and mutual understanding for leading a proper social life. In a nutshell,
what is needed by, students for preparing themselves for proper adjustment, progress and
contribution to the society may be usefully available to them through the study of social studies.

For example,

 The historical evidences may properly lead a student to imbibe the need of mutual cohesion
and understanding by going through the conclusion that “united we stand, divided we fall.”
 Geographical awareness may provide them a broad outlook of their place in the whole
universe and the diversities found all over the globe. Civics, economics and political science
elements of the social studies material may prepare them for civic competency, democratic
citizenship and useful productive organs of the society

Cultural Value - 2

Social studies help students in getting acquainted with the past and present of their culture
and civilization and contributing properly towards its preservation, promotion and transmission.
They not only get acquainted with their own culture, with the help of the study of social studies, but
also have opportunities for knowing and understanding about the cultural traditions, values and ways
of living of other people belonging to different societies and nations of the world. It may help them in
living and tolerating the diversities in the existing cultures of the world and also to enjoy their own
cultural uniqueness
For example,

 Historical facts may provide them an appropriate mirror for looking into the ideal, values and
day to day living of their ancestors. In the present age where we perturbed by a wave of
cultural pollution, it becomes very essential for acquainting our younger generation with the
traditions of our ancient culture and values held by our ancestors. They can feel proud of the
achievements of their ancestors in various fields of life and values of their cultural traditions
and thus can be helped to set their path of progress by adhering to their cultural roots. In this
way, the study material of social studies may prove quite helpful in developing the needed
sense of belongingness and attachment towards cultural values and heritage, and make
children feel proud of it and contribute significantly towards its preservation, promotion, and
transfer

Moral Value - 1

The study of social studies helps in the development of various social virtues, characteristics,
desirable ideals and moral values among the students. It helps them in the development of their
intellectual potential and equip them with proper thinking and reasoning powers, and enable them to
take proper decision by weighing the pros and cons, or goodness and badness of a particular deed.

For example,

 The study of the social happening helps them in learning valuable lessons in order to make
cooperative efforts for the progress of the society and nation. Similarly the study of the life and
contributions of the leading figures of their society and nation as well as of those belonging to
other corners of the world may help the youngsters in imbibing many ideals, temperamental
characteristics and values leading towards their proper moral and ethical development.

Democratic Value-1

Democracy is defined as the rule of the people by the people for the people. Its success
depends on personal development as well as the social and political consciousness of its citizens. The
study of social studies helps students in growing and developing into competent, efficient and
effective citizens for the proper running of democracy in their country.

For example,

 There is sufficient study material and learning experiences available in social studies to
provide knowledge and understanding about the rights and privileges as well as the duties and
responsibilities of the citizen of a democratic country. The ideals and values enshrined in our
constitution, like respect for the democratic institutions and their functioning, equality,
fraternity, socialism, secularity can be properly developed in the students with the help of the
study of social studies
 Besides this, while historical aspects of the social studies material helps in providing the
lessons for standing unmoved and united in social and national crises, the material related to
geography opens the eyes and ears of the students in providing the idea of universality and
world-mindedness
Political Value-2

The realization of the political values by the study of social studies may be witnessed through
its capacity of acquainting the students with the political system of the country and developing them
properly for their contribution in its proper maintenance. It can help them in getting acquainted with
the latest developments, progress and incidents happening at the regional, national and global level
thus making them conscious and capable member of their community, nation and world community.

For example,

 Every adult citizen has an equal opportunity for participating in the task of electing a
democratic government. This makes a solid case for being conscious of their political
rights and having adequate knowledge about political views of different political
parties, enhance awareness about the current political scene at the regional national
and global level and have a political thinking of their own for participating in the
progress of their society and nation. These qualities can be properly developed and
inculcated among the youngsters with the help of the study of social studies.

Disciplinary Value -2

The subject material and learning experiences related to social studies help in disciplining the
minds and functioning of the students by providing enough opportunities for the development of
their mental faculties such as thinking, reasoning, observation, imagination, etc. In the present age,
when there may be seen crisis of values in the functioning of democracy in our country, the subject
matter of social studies related to civic functioning and values may bring our bewildered youths on
the right track.

For example,

 The study material related to the historical aspect may prove quite helpful in solving
many of the emerging problems in the purview of past experiences. It may also acquaint
them with the knowledge of the downfall of our society and decline in its progress as a
result of the lack of discipline in the society. Thus, it is able to provide a lesson of
observing discipline on the part of the citizens in relation to their personal as well as
social conduct.

Informatory Value-1

Social studies present a useful integration and unification of the various social sciences
disciplines such as history, geography, civics, political science, economics, and sociology. In a
meaningful and unified form it presents a vast treasure of information and knowledge related to men,
society and human relationships.
For example,

 its historical elements acquaint us with the human civilization.

 Similarly, through the study of aspects related to geography, we can have desired
knowledge and understanding about the formation of earth, hilly areas and mountains,
rivers and seas, days and nights, weathers, availability of different types of soils,
minerals and other geological resources, man-made progress and development on the
earth, etc.
 In similar way civics, political science and economic aspects provide us valuable
information and understanding about the civic political and economic needs and
problems of our social life.
 Moreover, through the treasure of the current events aspect, we can feel ourselves
quite informative about the latest developments and current events of our region,
nation and globe
Practical value-1

Social studies is not merely, a subject of theoretical interest, it carries an immense value of
practical utility. What is learned by the students can prove quite helpful in their day-to-day life for
their own adjustment and progress as well as making them capable of contributing towards the
progress of their society , Besides this, its study may also prove helpful realization of artistic and
recreational values.

For example,

 Its subject material drawn from civics, it teaches them civic values and inculcates in them the
civic sense and qualities of effective and efficient citizenship. They can understand a very
practical phenomenon in respect of exercising their rights in proper coordination with their
duties and responsibilities and it can in turn drift them towards success in their practical life.
Its sociological aspect may prove quite helpful in acquainting the students with the
significance of various social institutions life family, community, school, etc. in their life and
playing their role properly in interacting with them for the mutual give and take operations

 Similarly its historical aspects provide them useful experiences for leading their practical life
in a proper way by avoiding the mistakes of the past omitted by their ancestors or others. The
contents related to economics teach them the practical lessons of being economic in terms of
using their time, energy and resources and contribute towards the economy of their family,
society and nation.

 The other aspects of its subject matter may help the students in learning useful ways of
maintaining their health, ecological balance in the nature and society, peaceful coexistence in
leading their life properly in tune with other people in the society.

Vocational value-2

Vocational value of a subject is judged through its capacity of providing channels and entry for
the various occupations and professions available at a particular time period in a society. The subject
material of social studies, as we know, is derived from a number of social sciences disciplines on a
very simple assumption of being practically useful to the students in their present and future life. It
has , therefore, tremendous possibilities of preparing them for earning their livelihood. Its study is
capable of opening many channels and entry gates for a variety of professions and occupations by
developing in students the necessary abilities and capacities for the purpose.

For example,

 It can make them shine as historians and surveyors of historical evidences

 They can learn a lot about the soils, climates, the things related to agriculture, mining
irrigation, natural and physical environment, transports and communication system on the
earth, etc. through the geographical aspect of social studies.
 Similarly the study of the aspects related to economics may help the students in learning about
many things concerning demand and supply, banking, taxation, management of the resources,
the rules and regulations about exercising economy in transaction.

Artistic and Recreational Value-1

There is a need of using and preparing a variety of aid material like charts, maps, pictures,
graphs, models and transparencies in the teaching and learning of social studies, which may help
students in expressing their artistic and aesthetic abilities and deriving useful recreational value.

For example,

 The utilization of community resources and organization of trips and excursions in the
teaching of social studies may also provide valuable opportunities to the students for fulfilling
the needs of their creative expression and educational attainment besides proving to be an
excellent source for their amusement and entertainment.
 They can learn about the life and contributions of the great artists, musicians, composers,
architects, sculptors, poets, and writers through the courses of social studies, and in turn it
may prove quite useful in terms of gaining artistic and recreational advantages.
 They can study through the various topics of the social studies about the beauty and variety of
the nature in the form of varying types of soils, lands, plants and other vegetation, rivers,
valleys, mountains, forests, insects, birds, animals, sea and oceans, gulfs and currents and it can
go a long way to help them in deriving useful artistic and recreational advantages out of such
exposure.
 The study of social studies in the shape of both its curricular and co-curricular activities may also
help the children in the development of useful hobbies like the collection of different types of soil,
specimen of rocks, minerals, and sea products, stamps, coins, etc. that may help in the satisfaction of
their artistic, aesthetic and recreational needs. In this way, study of social studies may provide a
variety of ways for the realization of the artistic and recreational values.

National Value-1

The study of social studies is very helpful in serving one’s national interests. A nation expects
from its citizens to exercise their rights and responsibilities in an appropriate way leading to their
individual progress as well as to the progress of their society and nation. Every citizen must possess a
genuine love and feeling of sacrifice and belongingness to his nation, and thus may be loaded with the
traits of patriotism.

For example,

 Students have a proper access to the knowledge of the phenomena of unity in diversity by
studying the different regions, states, cultures, religions, languages and resources of their
country. They may know about their common heritage, constitutional obligations, structure of
the government, defense system, and many other things and attributes that may help in
developing the concept of nation and nationality in them.
 Students may easily learn valuable lessons of patriotism by going through contributions,
struggles and sacrifices of the great men, heroes, and valiant warriors of our country, for
example Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini, and Andres Bonifacio. The exposure to the events and
progress happening in other countries may also help them in feeling the need of cooperation
and national unity for putting their country in the race with other nations of the world. In this
way, teaching of the subject social studies may help in developing the feelings of national
solidarity and patriotism among the youngsters

International value-2

The study of social studies is quite capable of making the students world-minded by
inculcating in them the notion that the whole world is my family. It may result on account of the
vastness and uniqueness of the subject material and learning experiences of social studies that may
help in developing knowledge and understanding about the culture and life of the people living in
different corners of the world; their independence in terms of fulfilling the mutual needs, trade and
commerce; and the need of solving the mutual conflicts through peaceful negotiations and global
feelings.

For example,

 They may learn from the history of wars the valuable lessons of avoiding clashes between nations,
the knowledge about the roles of peace treaties and the world organization like UNO may help the,
in learning about the benefits of adhering to the principles of “let live and others live.” In this way,
the teaching and learning of social studies may help the youngsters to imbibe the spirit of world
solidarity and international understanding.

Educational Value-2

The teaching and learning of social studies carries a significant educational value in the form of
helping the teachers and students in the realization of the aims and objectives set for any general
scheme and curriculum of the elementary and secondary education. Its subject material and learning
experiences help in the development of the wholesome personality of the students. Its study helps
them in becoming fully aware of their physical and social environment, getting adjusted to it and
become capable of taking control of it for contributing to the individual and social progress.