CONCEPTUAL BACKGOUND OF SOCIAL SCIENCE, MEANING AND SCOPE, NEED AND
SIGNIFICANCE
INTRODUCTION
Social science is difined as any scientifiic field
that investigates human society. It deals with detailed and systematic study of
human relationships. They are written adults. However, social science provide a
lot of konwledge and a social scientist is ever willing to add a little more of
human knowledge through his reasearch and enquiry.
Social studies is a school subject that deals
with the human relationship. In social
studies we deal with man and his interaction with his fellow beings and with
his surroundings and environment.
Social science consists the theoretical part of human affairs whereas the social studies
deals with the partical part of human relationships.
CONCEPTIONAL
BACK GROUND OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
It
has been amply made clear in the previous section that social studies is not a
combination of history, Geography, Civics etc and that it is an independent
field of study. It delas with the study
of relation ship and interrelations historical geographical and social and it
provides the young mind the basic of publlic knowledge and orientation to
llife. The main aim is to give better
understaing of present problems. We try
to give our future citizens some true undersataing of the development of mankind. We attempt to trace with the children and
fascinating story of how man has developed through the ages of how man has
studied to use and control his evironment and how his life has been influenced
by this, how our instituions have grown out of the past and should, therefore
be respected and how they have undergone many changes to meet changing needs
and must undergo many more from time to time.
MEANING AND SCOPE AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
The words “Social” and “studies” are
quite important in terms of “Social studies”.
It emphasis that the study must be “social” ie. a study of society and
through society. It is a study of
society both in time and space. It delas
with the study of the development vwrious social instituions such as family, caste
system, marriage, governace etc. It is a
study for the improvement of society. In
social studies we expect thst the present generation of the pupils will become
better individuals and more effective members of the various groups in which
they function.
The scope of a subject defines the parameters of study of the
subject such as the depth, comprehensiveness variety etc.
(1)Vastness of Scope
The scope of the social stuides is
very vast. It is as wide as the world
and as long as the history of man. It is
a study of human relationships and include sof the following areas of
relationships. Relationship between:
(1)
People
and people
(2)
People
and instituons
(3)
People
and earth
(4)
People
and goods
To
understand these relationships it is essential that the student is provided
with a basic knowledge of history, geography, economics, civics etc. Moreover all these subjects commonloy
reffered to as social science should be synthesized into a compact whole by
blending them together. It helps to
remove limitations of each subject.
(2)Functional study of
Natural Sciences and Fine Arts.
The Social Science and natural
Sciences are different areas of study but they are quite inerdependent on
eachother. The knowledge of physics ,
chemistry, botony, zoology, Physiology etc. all are required in the study
socila studies.
Then the functional study of fine
arts such as drwing, constructing, painting, music, dance, dramatization is
also included in the curriculum of social studies. These art provide the content that is needed
for a better understanding of people and the world. Social studes should mean something happening
to pupils and teachers and not merely something studied by them.
(3) A study of Current Affairs
Current affairs are those events that
delad with our present problems and issues.
Every current affairs finds its background in the past. So it provides a great source of both
historical and geographical learning.
(4)Internation
understanding
One of the objectives of any
educational programmes is the promotion of international understanding. The Indian children must learn”Brotherhood of
mankind” and for this he should be made familiar with his personal needs, the
needs of society as also the various problems that arise in modern day society
by living together.
(5)Practical study of
defferent resources
In social
science curriculum we must include such new elements like character eduction,
civil rights, cooperatives, social behaviour inter cultural relations and
planning etc. It would be better to
undertake excursions and visits to differnet towns and places of historical,
economical, cultural, geographical, scientific and educational importance. The studentsd of scocial studies should be
given a good exposure to library and community resources, social service
activities etc.
Above discussion
make it abudantly clear that the scope of socoial science is limitless and that
it derives its subject matter from all social science and relasted disciplines
as also from literature, finearts, physical science, religion etc.
Need and Significance of social
science
Needs:
· To know our society
· To admire our heriditory /culture
through the prosperitive sense.
· In the olden days the child learnt
about interpersonal relationship of his group at his home and his environments.
· Comparison between World
Civilizaions.
· To get the right view for family,
community, state, and nation.
Significance:
· Self sufficiency
· Making positive attitudes about Patriotism,
Co-operation, Soverignity and tolerance etc.
· Awareness of our society.
REFERENCE
· Teaching of Social Studies –
A.S.Kohli (Anmol Publication Pvt. Ltd., Ansari Road, Daryadang, Delhi)
· Social Studies in the class room
Trends and Method – P.K. Susheesh Kumar, P.P. Npushad (Scorpio Publications,
Calicut University, Kerala.)
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