The Importance of History
History is a subject that has become academically secondary to math, reading, science and even writing. However, each of these subjects requires an understanding of the history related to that subject. In science, one does not neglect the history of Newton just as in reading and writing one is expected to know the classics of Shakespeare. History is the foundation of understanding all other subjects.
Further, History teaches us cause and effect, empathy and aids in conceptual skills such as how to solve problems, think creatively and analyzing complex situations. By looking at and understanding events and people of the past, we can avoid making the same mistakes again. History helps bring us together as a society through reflection and remembrance of important traditions.
Finally, History should be read, reviewed by everyone with purposeful reflection. It was not that long ago that our history was writing predominantly by white males. And before that, history was limited to being written by the Church. Albeit every culture maintains oral histories, however, much of what we as American’s have accepted as history is the biased written record of the Church or white males or both. Fairly recently, women and African American’s have been invaluable in providing a different perspective on events of the past that have opened dialog for debate on many subjects.
History, while it is meant to be an account of the events, people and places of the past, should not be left on a shelf to collect dust. History is a venue for inquisitive minds to grow. Scientific discoveries are not possible without knowing, understanding and questioning history. No matter your educational or career goals, you will need to know and embrace history.
The Importance of the Lemon Test
The Supreme Court makes decisions that often spark heated debate due to the precedent that these decisions set. One such case, Lemon v. Kurtzman 403 U.S. 602 (1971), not only set the precedent on how other Establishment or Free Exercise Clause cases are decided as it pertains to questions of state and religion through the Lemon Test but it has brought into question the very foundation of the First Amendment and the original intent of the separation between church and state. Today, some argue that the first prong of the Lemon Test is inadequate in deciding Establishment Clause cases and that it should be abandoned for a better test focused on “coercion and endorsement” (Blackman 2009). Others argue that the test goes too far and does not promote religious freedom but rather adversely affects it (Belcher 2009). On the contrary, the Lemon Test had its purpose and still does. It should be seen as not only a building block establishing a foundation for future cases in changing times just as those cases before it but also as the insulation protecting an insular minority’s fundamental rights from “popular opinion”.