In light of the common mission of social studies education to prepare future democratic citizens, the field continues to be rooted in didactic and monologic practices. Finding an alibi in the current accountability movement that favors teaching about democracy instead of teaching through democracy, many social studies teachers have reneged on…

The experience of 9/11 prompted a transformation in one secondary teacher's approach to teaching controversial subjects based on the relevance to today's students. Soon after that fateful day, this teacher found a purpose and rationale for developing a very demanding curriculum on 9/11, and relates how his teaching unit has evolved by expanding…

History teaching is fraught with the pitfall and danger of subtly instilling into the young the notion that the way history happened was inevitable. This demands the corollary that the way it happened is the "right way." In this article, the author opines that teachers should be prepared to analyze the grounds on which their judgments are made. He…

This article describes the personal and pedagogical contexts for the development of a 9/11 curriculum. The author relates his own experiences learning of the event and teaching it soon afterwards and the subsequent development of a nationally distributed 9/11 curriculum.

Critics charge that social studies education often fails at the most rudimentary level because there is a tendency to "play it safe" by focusing on general abstractions while avoiding discussion of specific--and often times controversial--topics. In this article, the author argues that one way in which social studies teachers can overcome such…

One technique particularly worthy of possible inclusion in the secondary social studies methods class is an assignment in which students interview practicing social studies teachers. In addition to obtaining more insight into actual teaching practice, methods students learn about interviewing as a social studies teaching method. A course is…

Book Review Committee members for the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), in collaboration with the Children's Book Council, have reviewed current copyrighted trade books with social studies themes since 1972. As a result, an annual bibliography of K-12 trade books is published each May in the "Notable Social Studies Trade Books for…

The author examines the important role schools, teachers, and the high school social studies classroom can play in helping students develop positive racial identities. Using the Classroom-based Multicultural Democratic Education framework, the author argues that high school social studies teachers need to adapt pedagogical strategies and curricula…

One of the most perplexing quandaries that has continually confronted proponents of democratic governance centers around the question of how to protect the right of the majority to govern while simultaneously protecting the fundamental rights of those who are, at least temporarily, in the minority (Martinson 1996, 163). The author of this paper…

Reiterates the oft-heard complaint that social studies instruction relies too heavily on textbooks and lectures resulting in disinterested and alienated students. Recommends social studies adopt more experiential and constructivist teaching methods (role playing, educational games, student projects) and utilize multimedia and the Internet. (MJP)

Montessori believed that preschool children were capable of practicing an elementary form of democracy, could direct their own learning, and discipline themselves. How preschool teachers can adapt Montessori ideas to regular classroom instruction is discussed. (RM)

Describes classroom techniques used successfully by the author for teaching key sociological and social scientific concepts in secondary social studies courses. The author believes that the great value of sociology is the way it perceives and conceives of human behavior, rather than in so-called sociological findings. (RM)

Suggests that building a sound rationale for dealing with controversial issues in the classroom will prevent unnecessarily adversarial relationships between teachers and administrators or the public. Discusses involving students in real problems in both public and private issues. States that effective rationale building depends on involvement in…

Presents a model for teaching a multicultural high school history course. Discusses the need for such a course and its limitations if the school is not committed to an overall multicultural program. Includes a sample course syllabus and suggestions for activities. (GEA)

Prejudice-free education encompasses all forms of education aimed at challenging various types of discrimination. Both the teaching methods and the curriculum of social studies education can support and be part of prejudice-free education. (RM)