History is a branch of knowledge that deals with past events
of human being and their response to changes in progress of materials
production. History is a record of human activities enables man to obtain his
needs from nature. Mans basic needs consist food
, clothing and shelter. These
activities and experiences are the result of changes that have been taking
place in social, cultural, economic, and technological aspects since the
beginning of human life.
History is study of transformation in aspect of production
and reproduction on processes in any society. In the production process the
concern of history is on changes of production relation, tools of production
and how man work to produce material necessities for his living. In production
relation the concern is on changes that have been taking place in production
processes such as marriage and child nursing.
Studying history is based into two levels, first level
history explain man’s struggle to master his environment that is the struggle
against nature. In this struggle of man continually learns how to design and
fashion better tools. In so doing, he develops science and technology. For
example the people who live in Engaruka long time ago controlled their environment
by adopting irrigation and terracing relationship between man and man in the
course of material production. For example the hunting and gathering people of
long time ago just met in hunting, killed their prey, shared it and dispersed.
The agricultural societies developed social relations, which forced people to
stay together permanently.
Different scholars argue that “learning and teaching of
history it is wastage of time”. But my position is not true so I oppose their
arguments because history has a lot of importance to the learners and teachers
as the following;
History helps us to understand our origin and our past and to
know our country how it developed, how it has been ruled, its successes and
failure, its problems and needs. Without learning and teaching history it will
be difficult to understand, so we will be dark people.
Through studying history we get knowledge on solving
conflicts in the society. This means that history help us in the struggles for
regulating human relations in the process of production. Without history it
will be difficult to struggle for regulating human relations in the process of
production.
History helps us to understand the past and the present that
help us to predict the future. This means that tell us where we came from,
where we are as well as where we are going. So without learning and teaching
history it will be difficult to understand where we from, where we are and
where we are going.
History makes us aware of the past successes and failure in
the struggle for survival against nature and against fellow men. From this
awareness we can plan well the future. In this case, history is necessary for
development of individually and whole society.
History is a tool for developing mental skills, inquiry mind,
proper reasoning and fair judgment on problems existing in the society. Without
learning and teaching history the development of mental skills, inquiry mind,
proper reasoning and fair judgment on problems existing in the society will
become low and sometimes poor.
It help helps us to understand technological transformation
in human life. For example, the transformation from stone and bone tools to
iron tools. Human technological changes overtime so through history it will be
able to record these changes.
History is a guide to the understanding of social cultural
values in different societies. Each society has its social cultural values
example Masai, Chagga, M akonde and others in whole world. This social-cultural
value can be guided by history.
History helps us in making investigation or research on
different problems. Some problems in the societies can be investigated through
history as if they occurred for the second chance. So an investigator uses the
history in solving these problems through the recorded information on the
procedures that used in solving the first problems.
History leads us to understand the origin and development of
man through different stages. Through history we learn and teach the origins of
man through stages like Primates, Ausralopithecus Africanus, Homo erectus, and
Homo sapiens, so without learning and teaching history it will be difficult to
understand it.
It helps us to understand the relationship that existed
among people in different periods and environments. For example the
relationship in trade like trade conducted in East Africa societies, America,
Asia and European during the slave trade, also the relationship in military, political,
and social situations.
Generally, the learning and teaching history should be taken
into consideration of a number of factors including; historical, economical and
socio-cultural drives existing in the societies. Also the pedagogical approach
used in teaching and learning aims at providing students with knowledge, skills
and experiences which can be used to enhance their social , historical,
political and cultural understanding.
REFERENCES
Illumiate,
M& Lutatenekwa, F. (ed), (2003). History
book one. Dare salaam: Tanzania institute of Education.
Mbwiliza,
JF& Luanda,N.N(ed),(1981). Secondary History:
The development African societies up to 19th century. Dare s salaam: Tanzania
institute of Education.
Zombwe,G.M,(2008).
History for secondary schools: Book one.
Dares salaam: Nyambari Nyangwine publishers.
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