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| Staff: |
| Mrs. C. Carmichael -Dept. Head |
| Mrs. D. Colella |
| Ms. S. Naqizadeh |
| Ms. S. Maceroni |
| Ms. J. Cescolini |
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The Place of Social Sciences and the Humanities in the Curriculum
The discipline of social sciences and the humanities encompasses four areas: general social science, family studies, philosophy, and world religions. Each has its own focus, but all share a common purpose.
The social science and humanities courses share a common object of study: human beings and their world. Using methods of empirical data collection and scientific analysis, the social sciences study human behaviour and society within such fields as sociology, psychology, and anthropology. Through the examination of the structures, processes, and relationships on which these fields shed light, students learn about the wide range of factors that have influenced peoples, cultures, and societies. The humanities courses explore the basic nature and purpose of human existence. Through the study of the human expression of self through philosophy and theology, students become aware of humanity’s ongoing attempts to understand and articulate the meaning and purpose of life. In humanities courses, students will learn some of the different world views, historical and cultural theories, philosophies, and social trends that have shaped our world.
Both social science and humanities courses teach students fundamental skills, such as how to formulate appropriate questions, differentiate between evidence and opinion, recognize bias, and organize and communicate results effectively. Students are required to research information from a variety of sources, to think critically and make connections between the ideas and facts they gather, and to use that information to solve problems through both independent effort and collaborative work.
In Grades 9 and 10, the focus of the program is on the area of family studies, which combines social and applied sciences in the study of topics relating to individual development and family life. Students are introduced to practical aspects of family living, studying subjects ranging from food and nutrition to resource management and conflict resolution. In the senior grades, courses are offered in more specialized areas of family studies, including parenting and fashion design, as well as in the other constituent subjects of the discipline – social science, philosophy, and world religions – that involve more theoretical and abstract approaches to the subject of human existence.
The social science and humanities courses give students essential knowledge and transferable skills that are applicable in various areas of their lives – in their personal and family life as well as in their postsecondary studies and in the workplace. They provide students with a foundation for a range of possible postsecondary destinations: for positions in retail and service industries; for community college programs in such areas as early childhood education, fashion design, and human resources; and for university programs in fields such as anthropology, consumer studies, family studies, food and nutrition sciences, human resources, psychology, philosophy, religious studies, and sociology.
The discipline of social sciences and the humanities has connections with many other disciplines taught in secondary school, on the level of both knowledge and skills. Studies in social science and humanities courses will allow students to bring a broader perspective to their learning in subjects such as history, geography, and English. Students will be able to build on previous learning, integrate related knowledge, and apply learning skills across subject areas. Subject matter from any course in social sciences and the humanities can be combined with subject matter from one or more courses in other disciplines to create an interdisciplinary course. The policies and procedures regarding the development of interdisciplinary courses are outlined in the interdisciplinary studies curriculum policy document. Taken from the Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum 9 - 12
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