Drawing on contemporary research literature, recently developed curriculum guides, and blue-ribbon reports, this digest reviews 10 contemporary trends in K-12 social studies in the United States. Trends are as follows: (1) History, history, and more history; (2) More geography, too; (3) Using literature to teach social studies; (4) Focus on the…

This document is part of a series that seeks to help people think constructively about foreign policy issues, to improve citizen involvement, and to encourage debate on public issues. "Europe in Turmoil: 1914-1945"; "The Search for Security: 1945-1985"; and "Revolutionary Changes in Europe: 1985-1993" are the issues…

Drawing from research, this book examines the current state of moral education, and asks how schools can foster the moral development of children. Following a preface, the book is divided into three parts. The first part is entitled "Educating for Values and Character" and contains four chapters: (1) The Case for Values Education; (2)…

This paper explores questions about why high school English teachers do and do not teach works that they consider to be controversial. It examines the barriers, both internal and external, that these teachers experience and how they perceive the barriers. The teachers were nine participants in a summer university seminar for teachers which focused…

While censorship pressures emanate from all points on the political spectrum at different times, the current censorship movement comes mostly from political conservatives. Censorship efforts by the Reagan administration include barring entry of foreign speakers whose views do not coincide with those of the administration, inhibiting the free flow…

The usefulness of microcomputers for teaching social science research methods has been the subject of numerous articles. This article describes how microcomputers can be used to teach public policy content, particularly topics involving controversial issues. The discussion is organized into four sections. Section 1, "Four Important Elements,"…

The authors offer their view of a normative basis for an approach to teacher education that contributes to the establishment of more critical and emancipatory practices in the public schools of United States. These ideas are then linked to the broader tradition of radicalism in teacher education. A variety of conceptual lenses and instructional…

Junior and senior high school social studies teachers and teachers of the mildly handicapped (primarily learning disabled) in New Jersey (N=195) responded to a social issues survey. For each of 14 social issues, they were asked to indicate the frequency with which the issue was included in the instructional program, its importance, their own level…

A brief introduction to futures education, an annotated listing of resources, and three ready-to-use student activities are provided. The introduction discusses the benefits of futures education; for example, it encourages students to make responsible decisions about the future. Next, it lists a variety of techniques developed by futurists to…

This reader provides teachers with background material on a range of sex-related subjects likely to surface in any classroom at every level, but particulary in middle or high school science classrooms. The first section presents statements of the National Science Teachers Association supporting the right and responsibility of teachers to provide…

This guide is designed to replace the ignorance, misinformation, and negative stereotypes that many students hold about the Soviet Union and its peoples with a reasoned and rational outlook based on critical thinking and class activities. The introduction to these activities provides background and a rationale for teaching about the Soviet Union.…

Science and religion have been referred to as the two strongest general forces which influence humankind. This document contains the proceedings of a conference which was held to address some of the relationships and controversies surrounding these topics. Included are the texts of the major papers presented at the conference. These are: (1)…

In this booklet, one of a series intended to apply economic principles to major social and political issues of the day, it is argued that government regulation of business has produced disappointing results, as evidenced by the steady rise of inflation rates in the 1970's, continuing unemployment, declining labor productivity, and increases in…

One of a series of secondary level teaching units presenting case studies with pro and con analyses of particular legal problems, the document consists of a student's lesson plan, a teacher's lesson plan, and a lawyer's lesson plan for a unit on abortion. The lessons are designed to expose students to the Supreme Court's decision concerning…

Activities for teaching about law in social studies classrooms are presented. Six generalizations have been identified to enable students to conceptualize law and justice and consider the ways in which law and order have been interpreted by different societies at different times in history: (1) society is organized rather than formless, (2) social…