Despite the best efforts of professionals to implement anti-bullying policies and curricula designed to foster tolerance and respect, bullying remains a serious problem in some learning communities. Surveys find that about a third of high school students are bullied in a given school year; seven percent of students noted they were bullied every…

In this article, the authors suggest a project that social studies teachers can do with students, using the location of the school as a starting point to address the inquiry question: "Whose place is this space?" They provide resources, such as a sample case study and worksheets, to conduct a field-based exercise so that students can…

This position statement is aimed at informing the general public, the K-12 community, and all educators, from pre-kindergarten through graduate school, about the importance of addressing study about religions in the social studies curriculum in ways that are constitutionally and academically sound. National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)…

People confront stereotypes every day, both in and out of the classroom. Some ideas have been carried in the collective memory and classroom textbooks for so long they are generally recognized as fact. Many are constantly being reinforced by personal experiences, family discussions, and Hollywood productions as well. The distinct advantage to…

An innovative program for schools that promotes respect and understanding between major religions enables students to engage with peers around the world via videoconferencing. Using videoconferencing and online community, "Face to Faith" enabled students from across the globe to learn from, with, and about one another. In the 2013-2014…

"Difficult" or "challenging" topics to teach include racism, violence, genocide, bullying, gangs, abuse (physical, emotional, and substance), slavery, suffering, hatred, terrorism, war, disease, loss, addiction, and more. But by confronting them with students, in the safety of a classroom through thoughtfully constructed lessons (ones that take…

A unit on China's ethnicities provides students rich opportunities to explore multiple themes in the social studies while helping them to develop a deeper understanding of recent events in western China. Studying China's ethnic minorities encompasses such topics as stereotyping, cultural diversity, the creation of ethnic identities, and key…

This article discusses discrimination and stereotyping of women appearing on United States postage stamps. (RM)

Offers advice to photojournalists for using the camera to sensitively portray news events. Suggest ways to avoid negative stereotypes, and for using photography to truthfully illustrate factual situations. (LS)

A variety of practical value clarification strategies are presented which can be a crucial element in a teacher preparation program designed to help teachers confront sexist values. (Author)

Changes in language are suggested to eliminate phraseology that reflects outdated assumptions concerning women. (Author)

Noting the very recent popularity of violence as a topic among historians, American history is reviewed to reveal the sources of this occurrence of historical amnesia. (KM)

Discusses a rationale for teaching about Africa and an interpretation of appropriate inquiry techniques. (DB)

200 Africans responded to a questionnaire eliciting recommendations for teaching Americans about Africa. Among them were: avoidance of stereotypes; understanding of African culture; inclusion of North Africa; and, greater emphasis on problems in southern Africa. (DB)

Suggests that handicapism (discrimination against and stereotyping of the disabled) merits the same attention from the social studies profession as sexism and racism have received. The subject should be introduced into the curriculum and would be appropriate, for example, for historical analysis, psychology, and anthropology. (KC)