Why study history? I hate history! I don't get it!

These are three statements that students regularly make at the start of a class. Usually by the end of the semester or class their perspective will have changed for the positive. "Why study history?" begs the reply from philosopher George Santayana "those who fail to remember the past are condemned to repeat it." The greatest lesson history offers is the ability to avoid making the same mistakes. "I hate history!" usually stems from p...