Efforts to improve social studies at the elementary level have not fared well in recent years. Federal demands for greater emphasis on mathematics and reading instruction have had a direct impact on social studies instruction--eroding elementary teachers' time and energy for the subject. In spite of this changing context, many states still test…

Examines the origins and conceptualization of the social studies movement in Africa, and describes the practice of social studies and its current status. Concludes that although social studies has some unique problems due to the nature of the subject matter, it is more relevant to the lives of African children than traditional curricula. (LS)