Tackling challenging topics in history can be difficult, and sometimes teachers struggle to find age-appropriate ways to help students confront painful stories from the past. About four years ago, this author spearheaded a focus group with the purpose of taking on such a challenge. In the initial meetings, members of the group (four educators from…

High school social studies teachers' perceptions of the study of history were measured in this study. Specifically, it assessed their opinions of the most important topics in the field of history, and how their opinions were influenced by their sex, teaching experience, and size of high school. An introductory section offers a historical overview…