The article sets out a "big history" which resonates with the priorities of our own time. A globalizing world calls for new spacial scales to underpin what the history curriculum addresses, "big history" calls for new temporal scales, while concern over climate change calls for a new look at subject boundaries. The article…

Among the notable aspects of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is the diverse array of interest groups supporting them. These organizations must now apply the strategies they used so effectively in advancing the Common Core to stem mounting opposition to it. This article draws on theories of political and policy learning and interviews with…

Discusses the relation between educational and political components of contemporary student rebellion, and indicates how curriculum workers are to respond to the potentially revolutionary situation in our schools. (DE)

Calls for greater attention to be given to the politics of human service delivery in the local arena. Based on a random survey of college course offerings, argues that current undergraduate curricula do not adequately incorporate material that focuses on local issues and community decision making. (RJM)

The movement toward math and science curriculum standards is inextricably linked with high-stakes politics. There are two major types of politics discussed in this paper: the allocation of curriculum content, and the political issues involved in systemic change. Political strategies for gaining assent to national, state, and local content…

One method of dramatizing the constant state of crisis management in developing countries is to have students in introductory college comparative political science classes study India's political system, which is under stress because of regional, linguistic, and cultural pluralism. This paper, a result of the 1987 Fulbright Summer Seminar to…

Maintains that criticism of the National History Standards is inaccurate and politically motivated. Claims that conservatives value history instruction as an inculcation of patriotism rather than a search for truth. Praises the Standards as fair, insightful, and useful. (MJP)

Charts the changes in Namibian curriculum policy reflecting the recent independence from South Africa and the dismantling of apartheid. Although originally conceived as a radical socialist state, political realities quickly created policies of reconciliation within Namibia. Educational policy has focused on the establishment of a post-colonial…

Claims that the proposed National History Standards subvert the legitimate purpose of history instruction, the explanation and understanding of historical meaning, in an effort to redress historical grievances. Argues that the Standards apply a critical perspective to European culture while celebrating the achievements of native cultures. (MJP)

The unit supplement provides skill development activities for high school students in mass media techniques. It is intended to be used with a social studies curriculum unit entitled "Unit on Political Decision Making and Action Strategy Over a Local Environmental Problem," (ED 118 526). Teacher directions for using the supplement as a single unit…

This book chronicles progress in the destruction of the values, methods, and goals of traditional humanistic study. It describes recent developments in the academic study of humanities as ideologically motivated assaults on the intellectual and moral substance of Western culture. It argues that various academic interest groups have worked to…

The curriculum material the Nanaimo District Senior High School curriculum development project is designing is based on the City of Nanaimo and its environs. The problem selected for their substantive research is the socio-political process in a growing city including the role and impact of: 1) civil service, elected officials, voters, and…

Criticizes the very notion of national standards for history. Maintains that the interpretative nature of historical study does not lend itself to the establishment of a single set of curricular standards. Argues that the most effective means of improving history instruction is to improve education for history teachers. (MJP)

By focusing on controversial social/political issues in high school American history and social studies courses, classroom teachers can help students develop critical thinking skills. Contemporary issues of a controversial nature are particularly good topics for high school because students are generally familiar with the issues through exposure…