This essay reviews the Geographical section of the "International Handbook of Jewish Education" published in 2011. The differences between countries, their unique histories and cultures, are important, but their similarities are arguably more revealing. Indeed, on occasions when similar phenomena are examined in different places by different…

This article provides a brief history of the development of the 1984 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) scope and sequence document and introduces the series of articles in this issue. (JDH)

A teacher reminisces on her experiences in Japan after World War II. (JD)

Social studies as taught in many schools is anti-intellectual, formless, and ineffective. History, if properly taught, is at the opposite extreme: challenging to the point of being beyond the comprehension of young students. Social studies at its worst is experimental psychological manipulation. At its best it can be a useful synthesis of concepts…

The historical development of curriculum materials in the social studies is outlined. Principles offering the potential to effect major changes are described and a set of guidelines for a rational social studies curriculum is established. (JMF)

A curriculum focus for teaching about the Holocaust in history and social studies classes is offered, centering on two points: racism and obedience to authority. (JMF)

The development of the new technology in the U.S. adds to the notion that history is irrelevant and that futurists have nothing to learn from it. Public school pedagogy plays a strong role in perpetuating the hegemony of the social and economic elite. (JN)

Presents an alternative scope and sequence for the social studies. Offers an integrated social science and humanities approach, placing history and geography at the center of the curriculum. Scrapping the prevailing pattern of repeated history surveys, the proposed alternative emphasizes a different historical period at each grade level to give…

Over the past two decades, interest in Holocaust education has grown substantially as individual states, starting in the 1980s, began to mandate and/or recommend Holocaust studies as part of the social studies curriculum. As a result, these mandates and/or interest in the Holocaust have spawned any number of curriculum products, some of which seek…

With enrollments in the social sciences declining markedly and their educational values being deemphasized, a new approach must be taken to social sciences instruction. Social science courses are antiquated, need revision, fail to offer enough job relevance to draw most students, are taught too conservatively, and no longer enjoy a protected…

Contends that decisions about scope and sequence are most appropriately made by local curriculum committees and teachers. Provides guidance for this work by identifying four goals for the K-12 social studies curriculum, along with seven major themes, including social history, cultural heritage, and development of a global perspective. Key…

Offers a conception of the K-12 social studies curriculum based upon a probing treatment of problems, ideas, and values of democracy. Maintains that democracy must be practiced in the schools if effective democratic citizenship is expected. Offers four guidelines for curriculum development, and identifies seven curriculum strands. (JDH)

Discusses the controversy surrounding the National Standards for World History and the National Standards for United States History. Maintains that people are finding out how unjust the criticism of the History Standards is. Includes supportive quotes about the standards from teachers and historians. (CFR)

Maintains that criticism of the history National Standards (from educators and historians, not the conservative media) has been unspecific and poorly focused. Argues that standards, by their definition, are exclusionary. Questions the attempt to develop critical thinking at an early age. (MJP)

Maintains that the traditional role of standards in elementary curriculum development is that of asking important questions regarding quality curriculum design and instruction. Presents seven questions to guide teachers as they utilize the standards. (CFR)