This year marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. The fight was a protracted one, lasting over 70 years, and it did not result in equity for diverse women. Voting and citizenship came to women of color differently depending on region, class, race, and ethnicity. For example,…

Metanarratives--stories that are told and retold over time, so that they become the story--have proven instrumental in cultivating conceptions of the Founders as invariably honest, brave, and ethical. A prime example is the tale of George Washington confessing that he chopped down the cherry tree. While this narrative crafted an image of…

Reflecting on the mediascape since the 2016 elections, it's tempting to think that "fake news" is strictly a twenty-first century phenomenon--designed by webmasters as clickbait for shadowy networks seeking power and profit. This article will explore some ways in which teachers can use the analytical tools of news literacy to unearth the…

The Uncle Tom's Cabin inquiry illustrates the Inquiry Design Model structure as students examine Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel to explore how words can affect public opinion.

As the 2012 presidential election approaches, controversy grows over recent statewide legislative initiatives that impose stricter identification requirements on voters. These new voter identification laws--especially those that require voters to produce a government-issued photo ID--are the subject of intense debates. During 2011, seven states…

In early July, the country of Sudan, wracked by civil war since the 1980s, officially split into two separate nations, Sudan and South Sudan. Six months earlier, over a seven-day period, the people in southern Sudan had voted in a national referendum on whether to secede from the North. The voters had two choices: "Separation" or…

Eleanor Roosevelt's support of African American rights was one of the highlights of her activities as first lady. Her fearless advocacy for justice pulled her into political controversies that were unprecedented for the wife of a president. The first lady's initiatives in support of the rights of African Americans offer students an excellent…

History has placed the stamp of approval on the publication of the Pentagon Papers, the top-secret history of the Vietnam War. If WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Julian Assange is another Daniel Ellsberg, then it is possible the website's disclosures will be viewed over time as similarly in the public interest. A classroom discussion on the release of…

Examines the creation/evolution controversy and suggests reasons why creationist demands have won public support. For those distressed by the flux and uncertainty inherent in science and basic to the theory of evolution, creationism provides a model of order, a distinct and coherent logical system that fully explains an uncertain world. (AM)

This speech by James Michener analyzes causes for anti-science attitudes prevalent in the United States. Concludes that the scientific world must keep the general public abreast of what it is doing and continue to pursue goals proven to be sound bases for a free society. (Author/KC)

The Presidential Address delivered at the 55th Annual Meeting of the National Council for the Social Studies in Atlanta is presented. Jean Claugus calls for a reassessment of the Council stressing the reality of being a professional organization; increasing professional visibility; and developing strong goals for the organization. (Author/JR)

Suggests that the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child challenges teachers to address rights representing a consensus on minimum standards. Compares the U.S. view of food, shelter, health care, and rehabilitation as legislative entitlements, rather than as the rights they are seen as in other nations. Discusses cultural diversity,…

Presents a three-step plan for teaching students about polling. Discusses how to introduce the basic concepts: population, sample, and random or probability sampling. Describes a game using marbles to help students understand probabilities. Ends with suggestions for the third step, actual student-generated polls. (DK)

Examines the controversy surrounding school system authority structures. Concludes that public censorship of curriculum is a positive influence because it deters teachers from exhibiting personal prejudices. (Author/DB)

Excerpts from two propaganda leaflets distributed by Germany during World War I to demoralize American soldiers. Teaching suggestions encourage students to examine the leaflets' tone, guess who the authors might have been, and analyze the leaflets as examples of a propaganda technique. (AV)