As a teacher, my goal is to inspire my students and educate them. As a social studies teacher, my job is to not only have my students engaged in historical subjects, but also to get them more active civically. It is the duty of the teacher to engage their students and connect with them. Once a student feels more connected with their teacher, they will become more connected with what is being taught. Why social studies? Although my master's degree is in History, I value all of social studies as immensely necessary to be taught in schools. Students must learn to think critically on issues that impact them currently. They must learn about the mistakes made in the past, and they must learn about how society dealt with those mistakes. History teaches us our story and foundation, Government teaches us how we operate in society, and World Studies/Geography teaches us the realities that stand outside of our nation's borders. In the later grades, students are becoming more developed psychologically. Students now can think more critically on topics and learn context rather than just memorizing facts. They can learn the importance of certain topics, rather than just that those topics exist. The job of the social studies teacher is to engage the students and have those students as active participants in, and out of, class.