Q. Different lessons are taught in Tanzanian schools culture being one of them , why is it essential for Tanzania to have lessons on culture in schools ?

ANSWER:

----Define   culture

----Components  of  culture

----Importance   of  culture

----Conclusion

Culture is the sum of total of the learned behavior of a group of people that are generally considered to be the tradition of that people and are transmitted from generation to generation.  or

A culture is a way of life of a group of people--the behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next.

Components of Culture

Components of Culture - are simply parts (ingredients, items, pieces, features) that make up a culture. These components look different in each culture.
There are different way to break down the components of culture - below is one way.
1. Survival
a. food - edible source of energy
b. clothing - protective covering for the body
c. defense - tools and strategies used to protect people from threats
d. shelter - structure used to protect people and their belongings
2. Education - the way people in a culture learn what they need to know in order to be successful in their culture
3. Transportation - the way a culture gets people and goods from one place to another
4. Communication - the way a culture shares ideas and messages
5. Economy - the way people in a culture get what they need and want
6. Technology - manmade tools that make life easier
7. Social Structure - who is considered important in a culture and who isn't
8. Beliefs and Traditions - the ideas a culture believes in and the way they celebrate those beliefs
9. Rules and Regulations - the rules that maintain order in a culture and the structure that maintains those rules
10. Arts & Recreation - the way a culture spends its spare time and expresses itself creatively

Importance of Culture
Why is culture important? How do cultural values impact living? Read on to find the answers.
Culture refers to the pattern of human activity and the symbols, which give significance to this activity. Culture is represented through the art, literature, costumes, customs and traditions of a community. Different cultures exist in different parts of the world. The natural environment greatly affects the lifestyle of the people of that region, thus shaping their culture. The diversity in the cultures around the world is also a result of the mindsets of people inhabiting different regions of the world. Why is culture important? Let us try to find out.

The cultural values of a community give it an identity of its own. A community gains a character and a personality of its own, because of the culture of its people. Culture is shared by the members of a community. It is learned and passed from the older generations to the newer ones. For an effective transfer of culture from one generation to another, it has to be translated into symbols. Language, art and religion serve as the symbolic means of transfer of cultural values between generations.

Culture is a bond that ties the people of a region or community together. It is that one common bond, which brings the people of a community together. The customs and traditions that the people of a community follow, the festivals they celebrate, the kind of clothing they wear, the food they eat, and most importantly, the cultural values they adhere to, bind them together.

Culture is seen as a system of social control, wherein people shape their standards and behavior. The cultural values form the founding principles of one's life. They influence one's principles and philosophies of life. They influence one's way of living and thus impact social life.

The importance of culture lies in the fact that it is a link between people and their value systems.

Culture is the unique possession of man. Man is born and brought up in a cultural environment. Man is not only a social animal but also a cultural being. Man cannot survive as a man without culture. Culture fulfils our needs and represents the entire achievements of mankind.

E. B. Taylor defined culture as "that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morale, laws, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

Functions of Culture:

Culture has been fulfilling a number of functions which may be divided into two - (a) for the individual and (b) for the group.

a. Importance to the individual:

(1) Culture distinguishes man from animal. It is the culture that makes the human animal a man. It regulates his conduct and prepares him for a group life. Without culture he would have been forced to find his own way which would have meant a loss of energy.

(2) Culture provides solution for complicated situations. Culture provides man a set of behaviour for difficult situations. In the absence of culture man would have been baffled even at the simplest situations. Culture not only defines but also determines what we eat and drink, when to sleep, when to laugh etc.

(3) Culture provides traditional interpretation to certain situations. Through culture man gets traditional interpretations for many situations according to which he determines his behaviour. For example, if a cat crosses his way he postpones the journey.

(4) Culture shapes personality. No child can develop human qualities in the absence of cultural environment. Culture prepares man for group life. It is culture that provides opportunities for the development of personality and sets limits on its growth.

b. Importance for the group:

(1) Culture keeps social relationship intact. Culture has importance not only for men but also for the group. Culture prepares man for group life. Group life would have been poor, nasty, and short if there had been no cultural regulations. Group solidarity rests on the foundation of culture.

(2) Culture has given a new vision to the individual. Secondly, culture has given a new vision to the co-operation of the individuals. Culture teaches him to think of himself as a part of the larger whole. It provides him with the concepts of family, state, nation etc. and makes possible the coordination and division of labour.

(3)Culture creates new needs. Finally, culture also creates new needs and drives, for example, thirst for knowledge and arranges for their satisfaction. It satisfies the moral and religious interests of the members of the group.

Conclusion:

From the discussion we know that culture is the unique possession of man. No one can develop human qualities without culture. Culture distinguishes, leads, changes the personality of the individual and structure of the group.