Aims of Teaching History at Secondary Stage

The intellectual maturity of pupils at this stage reaches almost adult standards. The main focus
at this level is on the stages in the growth of human civilizations and the evolution of social
systems and on cultural and scientific development. The main aims of teaching history at this
stage are:

1.To promote an understanding of the process of change: History is the only subject that can
unfold the process of change and development through which human societies have evolved to
their present stage of development.

2.To acquire knowledge of significant world events: The pupils through the learning of history
get the knowledge of happenings outside the life of the nation which are significant to the life of
the world as a social group or significant to some happening in the life of the nation (such as
French revolution, the Industrial revolution, etc.).

3.To promote an understanding of the common roots of human civilization: All major
civilizations of the world have common roots, leaving aside some major local characteristics;
most of them have common features which point to the basic unity of mankind. One of the
important aims of history is to point to this basic unity.

4.To develop an appreciation of the contributions made by various cultures: The cultures of
different countries have contributed in one way or the other to the total heritage of mankind.
History can bring this to the knowledge of the pupils and that is to be understood and
appreciated.

5.To develop an understanding of causal relationships: By the understanding of the causal

relationship between historical happenings, pupils may be able to have some insight into the
process of framing historical laws and utilizing them for prediction. For example, from the facts
studied in history regarding the French Revolution they may be able to conclude that other things
being equal, when the social, political and economic frustrations of the general mass of people in
a social group reaches an unbearable point, revolution is bound to break out. With this law as the
basis the pupils may discuss, whether India has reached the point of revolution at the moment or
not and what India might do to avert a revolution.

Objectives of teaching History at Secondary Stage

Knowledge: The pupil should acquire knowledge of terms, concepts, facts, events, symbols,
ideas, conventions, problems, trends, personalities, chronology and generalizations, etc. related
to the study of history. The pupil should be able to: Recall facts, terms, concepts, events, etc;
Recognize facts, terms, concepts, events, etc; Show information on maps, charts, diagrams, etc;
Read information presented in various forms.

Understanding: The pupil should develop understanding of terms, facts, principal events,
trends, etc, related to the study of history. The pupil should be able to: Classify facts, events,
terms, and concepts, etc; Illustrate events, trends, etc., by citing examples; Compare and
contrast the events, trends and concepts, etc; Explain events, terms, and concepts, causes and
effects, trends, etc; Discriminate between the significant and insignificant, important and less
important causes, effects events, etc; Identify relationship between cause and effect, means and
ends; Arrange facts, trends, etc., in a particular known order; Detect errors in the statement
and rectify them; Interpret the maps, charts, etc. and Extract from the different courses of
history.

Critical Thinking: The subject should enable the pupils to develop critical thinking. The pupil
should be able to: Identify the problems; Analyze the problems; Collect evidence; Sift
evidence, facts and opinion; Select relevant evidence and facts and weigh them; Establish
relationship and marshal facts; Draw conclusions; Advance arguments in support of his
contention; Verify the interferences.

Practical Skills: The subject should enable the pupils to develop practical skills helpful in the
study and understanding of historical facts. The pupil should be able to: Draw maps, charts,
diagrams, etc; Prepare models, tools, etc.

Interests: The subject should enable the pupil to develop interest in the study of history. The
pupil, on his own, should be able to: Collect coins and other historical materials; Prepare
illustrative material aids; Participate in historical dramas and mock sessions of historical
events; Visit places of historical interests, archeological sites, museums and archives; Read
historical documents, maps and charts; Write articles on historical and other related topics.

Attitudes: The subject should enable the pupil to develop healthy social attitudes. The pupil
should: Possess the sense of patriotism; Show respect towards other people’s opinion, ideas,
beliefs and ways of life; Read about other faiths and religions; Establish friendship with pupils
of other communities and faiths; Practice the spirit of noble ideal; Cooperate with others in
the social and civic activities;

Appreciate cultural variations; contributions made by various countries, interdependence of

nations and peoples and the need for settling disputes among nations in a peaceful manner
through world organizations like the U.N.O. Believe in the equality of man irrespective of race,
castes, religion and colour.