The Social Studies Department

The Social Studies covers a variety of disciplines.  Teachers certified in Pennsylvania are certified to teach seven subject areas which include:  History, Geography, Psychology, Government/Political Science, Economics, Sociology and Anthropology.   The Social Studies give students tools to think critically, analyze information, research effectively, and write in a concise manner.  Perhaps the biggest advantage to mastering the Social Studies is that Social Studies forces individuals to look at material that does not always give a clear cut answer.   Unlike math, the answer to a question is rarely finite in Social Studies.  In Social Studies, Students have to look at a variety of possibilities and evaluate the best possible situation.  This benefit should help students throughout the rest of their lives because there is rarely a finite answer in their lives.  There is no equation for the best College.  There is no way to give a definitive answer on the best car or where to buy a house.  Many of the events in students lives will be events where they have to make the best decision from the material they have.  Social Studies, because of the topics it covers, forces students to evaluate situations based on the information they have.   By studying the Social Studies, students will be well prepared for the many challenges they will face as their lives go forward.