A survey of San Francisco area high schools indicated that students perceived social studies courses to be less important to their occupational future and personal growth than math and English courses. (DE)

In 1960, Shirley Engle identified the primary purposes or "heart of social studies instruction" as educating citizens living in a democracy and teaching them the process of decision making based on values formulation through genuine problem solving. Engle's recommendations for helping students to confront and comprehend today's complex issues…