Describes problems encountered in educating students to become citizens who are capable of responding to domestic and international challenges. Discusses the responsibility of social studies educators in the realm of citizenship education. (Author/DB)

The author presents a personal account of the beginnings and growth of the law studies movement from the 1930s to the mid-1960s. (MJB)

Argues that teaching about the United States Constitution can stimulate thinking about key political issues and citizenship values. Offers a list of constitutional issues and questions which students and teachers should address. Concludes that continued study and discussion are essential to the preservation of the ideals contained in the…

Presents a speech which discusses private funding for government operations, secret policies, and the doctrine of plausible denial. States that the Iran-Contra affair illustrates the failure of the educational system to educate patriotic, intelligent persons in the nation's most fundamental constitutional arrangements, such as the appropriations…

Assesses the role that constitutional studies play in law-related education (LRE) and the impact that the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution has had on LRE. Includes a brief analysis of how the Constitution was taught in civics classes prior to the reforms of the progressive education era of the early 1900s. (JDH)

Discusses the Conference on History, Civil Government, and Political Economy of the National Education Association (NEA), known as the "Committee of Ten" which met in December 1892. Describes the committee's recommendations which, among other things, called for the movement away from rote memorization toward newer educational methods…

Urges social studies educators to play an active role in getting out the 18-year-old vote. Offers suggestions for increasing high school senior voter registration and interest in voting. (JDH)

Presents an alternative scope and sequence for the social studies. Offers an integrated social science and humanities approach, placing history and geography at the center of the curriculum. Scrapping the prevailing pattern of repeated history surveys, the proposed alternative emphasizes a different historical period at each grade level to give…

Reviews conditions in the United States supporting the need for the treatment of terrorism in social studies textbooks and reports the results of a survey of 19 high school government and history textbooks. Concludes that only two books offered students any help in defining or understanding terrorism. (JDH)

Presents a case study involving students in the issue of separation of powers as applied to the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. Students examine the case of Jagdish Rai Chadha, an immigrant threatened with deportation whose problems resulted in 1983 U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring legislative veto provision of Immigration and…

This article provides background on the voir dire (jury selection) process, explaining its importance to the outcome of a trial. Offers a simulation experience which has students take the role of lawyers interviewing 29 prospective jurors for an alcohol-related traffic accident involving a 20-year-old driver. Profiles for prospective jurors and…

Examines monolithic integration, ethnocentric pluralism, and pluralistic integration as three alternative conceptions of how the United States might best accommodate immigrants and how these theories have shaped treatment of immigration in the social studies curriculum. Pluralistic integration is presented as the approach which best matches…

Attempts to enrich civic learning should consider recent psychological studies. Changes must begin with teacher education and should be focused on: (1) changing classroom climate, where teachers' attitudes toward use of democratic or authoritarian processes can exert great influences; and (2) understanding students and teachers as developing…

Outlines a course on the Canadian governmental system. The four lessons stress the inquiry process and suggest activities which encourage the student to take an active role in experiencing a "human" dimension of the Canadian political process. (Author/DB)

Described is a social studies unit designed to help elementary school children understand the process of elections through participation in a mock election. Teaching preparation is discussed and activities for each day of the 18-day unit are presented. (Author/DB)