Here's Why...
“Why do I need to know this?” Such a commonly asked question in the classroom! Somehow, many students think that the curriculum is chosen randomly, with teachers requiring hard work that will never be used in life. And granted, sometimes that is the case. I do not think I have ever used the basic chemical formula for photosynthesis that I memorized in high school biology class. But I have used an understanding of the process of photosynthesis, along with the logic and balance I learned in working with equations.
That is often the situation with some of the more mundane classroom learning: while the specific facts may never be needed in life, the processes and thinking strategies are used daily. Researchers Beverly S. Faircloth and Samuel D. Miller state, “Even under ideal circumstances, where students develop an understanding of academic content, believe in their abilities to learn, and feel supported in those efforts, they may not care about what they are studying” (262). However, Faircloth and Miller continue by saying that students need to engage in what they are studying. Their research shows that helping students to make personal connections with class content and to see its long-term value causes the students to care about learning, therefore increasing their learning (and incidentally, raising their grades) (Faircloth and Miller 267).
The students simply need to know that what they are doing now will benefit them later.
So when a student asks you “Why do I need to know this?” here are some answers! Starting with a few specific examples, each category gives reasons that you can develop further with students.
When will I use mathematics?
- Making a schedule
- Measuring for construction
- Keeping track of personal finances
- Thinking through the steps of a problem
- Figuring miles and gas mileage when traveling
I recently wrote an algebraic equation to find an average age and attendance at an event I worked with. While this was not a typical “how many nickels and dimes” story problem that an algebra book might contain, the processes of thinking logically, identifying the problem and the unknown, and then following through the steps of solving an equation all stemmed directly from algebra class. Another commonly used mathematical skill is spatial awareness, manifested in finding our way to a new destination or estimating how many feet are between two items. The logic of a geometric proof is similar to the logic used in developing the structured plan of a new building. Even though the precise math book problems may not show up in real life, the skills used to solve them certainly do.
When will I use English or language arts?
- Writing a resume
- Work communications, such as emails, reports, presentations
- Engaging with media and discerning what is true in it
- Reading and understanding God’s Word
- Reading manuals and following instructions
The basic goal of language arts is to communicate clearly, whether in writing, speaking, reading, or listening. To engage with the culture around us, Christians need to be able to express ourselves clearly with organized thoughts. The construction of logical arguments used in writing a persuasive essay assists in defending our faith. As we engage with the media and determine its truth, we use the critical thinking skills developed in reading class. Even the more mundane skills, such as sentence diagramming, can help in understanding Biblical concepts–I once diagrammed a lengthy sentence from the Apostle Paul’s writings at the request of a family member to help him break down the passage for a sermon! And simply enjoying a good book gives such pleasure–all these skills derived from children’s language arts classes enrich the lives of adults.
When will I use science?
- Predicting the weather
- Understanding medicinal issues
- Agriculture, farming, gardening
- Personal health and hygiene
- Food and nutrition
The steps of the scientific method, such as forming a hypothesis and then experimenting to prove it, enable us to solve problems throughout life. When the chocolate chip cookies spread across the pan, the baker tests whether adding more flour will make the next batch perfect. Or if the car is making a strange noise, the mechanic uses previous experimental data to interpret what the sound means. Understanding scientific processes of simple chemical reactions such as rust formation assists us in proper use of our possessions. All of this scientific education helps make life’s processes make sense.
When will I use social studies?
- As a missionary
- Knowing where countries/cities/states are
- Relating to people of different cultures
- Awareness of historical events and how they affect current events
- Relating history to the Bible
Applying God’s Word to the world around us requires a cultural understanding and awareness. While Christians are to be in the world and not of it, we still need to interact with people of different cultures and regions. Basic facts and principles from school social studies classes enable us to do so in an educated and Biblical manner.
Work Cited
Faircloth, Beverly S., and Samuel D. Miller. “Enabling Enriched, Empowered Education: Insights From Jere Brophy’s Legacy.” Theory Into Practice, Vol. 50, No. 4, Oct. 2011, pp. 262-68. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1080/00405841.2011.607370
