Humankind has been built on a long history of communication, civilization, and creation. Ever since the dawn of light on Earth, every step of evolution has been a stepping stone in the creation of history.
Everything that we surround ourselves with comes to us due to our heritage – residence, food, technology, and education. Heritage is a combination of all things that we inherit from our ancestors – near and far – and it forms the groundwork on which we build our entire lives. It is necessary that we, as new and old members of society, introduce today’s children and tomorrow’s citizens to the heritage and the culture that has helped build the world to the place it is today – in terms of understanding, intelligence, values, and tolerance.
Inspirational Value
Children tend to grasp knowledge and information with ease and intellect in their primary years. An introduction to heritage since the years of their life and education will allow students to realize what, and who has come before them so that they have been awarded the life they live today. As children and adults alike, heritage is a source of inspiration and a knowledge bank of value – a place where we all can connect, irrespective of age, gender, and race.
Connection through culture and heritage can give someone’s life a purpose – and someone’s life a background. Every child has a different need, and several of these are based on the lack of understanding of their position in this world – where do they come from? Where are they supposed to go in life? Who is it that they are supposed to become, or emulate? The knowledge of their heritage, and the knowledge that comes from their heritage, can both help answer many such doubts. Children would understand why their parents ask them to act certain ways and imbibe certain virtues and values – they would understand why the food they eat and the home they stay at is the way it is. These are important inquiries that have been a part of the human brain’s ability to think and look for tangible answers to problems.
Heritage is a reminder of everything that we, as mankind, have collected, learned, and earned during our journey towards the 21st century. Physical entities and possessions are proof of this history – objects that we can touch, see and experience. What better example than architecture to highlight this narrative?
From kings’ towers to humble homes and from fighting arenas to palatial courts, architecture created by our forefathers may be the most important part of our heritage, be it the heritage of a small family, a large clan, or even the world as a whole. Buildings and writing accounts of events are clear and crisp methods of putting in perspective what may have happened in the years that came before us, and to the people who came before us.
The more we understand our heritage and the historical architecture that was a part of it, we come to value it more than ever. This newfound value for heritage can help us better protect it, and also incline us to learn more about it. The United Nations themselves actively participate in the protection of architectural heritage throughout the world – through there UNESCO wing. Learning from history and applying it in the world of today helps us just like gaining experience does – helps prevent older mistakes and tells us what can be done better.
Experienced wisdom
For centuries, societies have arrived to maintain and preserve their activities in a combination of techniques to make sure that their stories are accurately told to future generations. Considering the vast exposure of humans to a variety of situations and places over the years, the kind of information that has been accumulated and documented for centuries can hold a lot of value across many different subjects. To take look, there is detailed information about subjects such as law, foreign policy, psychology, economics, linguistics, sociology, medicine, and religion, among others.
An abundance of experience and gathered wisdom can be lost if not documented properly. This information of the yesteryears can help you make decisions today – lay a foundation for building your opinions and careers in these fields. They help you question your mettle and rethink theories and conclusions. It is this accumulated wisdom that acts as experience, and the collective experience is the wisdom passed down to you every day.
While learning about heritage helps children to appreciate the past and the culture they come from, it also teaches them an important life lesson. It teaches them permanence in this world where the only constant is change. It helps children and students prepare themselves for what is come after they are gone – how they can leave behind a part of themselves to be appreciated in the future – what legacy their name will hold.
In an attempt to protect the past, through heritage, we as humans have also learned to protect our future, and should we not teach these to our upcoming generations? For, a lot of decisions taken for the future today are based on the knowledge of what has already happened in the past.
References
- Cultural Heritage through Image (https://culturalheritagethroughimage.omeka.net/5-reasons-why-we-should-teach-the-value-of-cultural-heritage-to-high-school-students)
- Heritage Films (https://yourheritagefilm.com/the-importance-of-knowing-your-heritage/)
