Recommendations to increase knowledge of American history and of the rights and responsibilities of citizens among public school students in Massachusetts are outlined and discussed. The recommendations made by the special study committee were based on two state-wide surveys (one of secondary teachers and social studies directors or chairpeople…

One of a set of high school curricula on nuclear issues, this 10-day unit for English classes informs students of the issues surrounding the nuclear arms race and military spending. Each lesson includes readings, worksheets, and a daily homework assignment and focuses on one of the following activities: discussion, brainstorming, role playing, or…

One of a set of high school curricula on nuclear issues, this 10-day social studies unit helps students understand the interrelationship of economics, the arms race, military spending, and the threat of nuclear war. Activities such as role plays, discussion, brainstorming, and problem solving develop students' abilities to evaluate issues and…

The document presents a curriculum module designed to help 11th grade students become intelligent consumers of educational services by focusing on relevant contemporary legal developments. The major goal is to promote students' awareness and understanding of their role as consumers of educational services, their rights and obligations, legal…

This study guide is one of several supplementary materials for a 15-week newspaper course about crime and justice in America. Course objectives are to help students understand the complexity of crime in America, the relationship between crime and the social system, uses and misuses of official statistics, competing philosophies of criminal…

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…

Presents a course on gender, race, and class developed at a White, midwestern university. Describes critical theory objectives through which students learn to analyze racism, sexism, and classism, and construct a model based on their analysis. Includes class assignments, projects, and activities. (NL)

This task force report is designed to focus attention on the young adolescent learner and provide direction for developing appropriate and meaningful social studies instruction for the middle school. Schools at the middle level characteristically focus on the unique developmental needs of young adolescents. A number of these needs are listed, in…

Sixty-three basal high school textbooks from 18 publishers were reviewed to determine their treatment of population growth, resources, environmental problems, economic development, and "package" handling of these limits-to-growth (LTG) topics. The textbooks included 21 U.S. histories, 9 economics texts, 5 civics texts, and approximately (there is…

The purpose of this national sample survey was to collect data on the evolution of political orientations among high school students and on the intergenerational influences upon that process. Two datasets (one involving the responses of 97 principals and one involving the responses of 317 social studies teachers from those same 97 schools) were…

Presents three law-related education lesson plans discussing the relationship between church and state. The first two lessons, establishment of religion and free exercise of religion, culminate in the third, a round table discussion. The students research, role play, and argue hypothetical and real court cases. (MJP)

This second edition of this reference guide provides a survey of some of the major legal problems that confront policymakers and school administrators. It contains landmark cases and other cases that best illustrate major principles of education law, along with summaries, discussions, and analyses of the cases. Edited cases are integrated into…

Traces historical trends in social studies education, examining pressures that have both produced and inhibited change. Analyzes differences between discipline-based and issue-centered approaches. Presents pessimistic, optimistic, and realistic scenarios of the next 100 years of social studies education. Advocates developing issue-centered social…

Reviews nine U.S. history textbooks, evaluating their analyses of the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and the Cold War. Documents their failure to link U.S. foreign policy to economic interests. Criticizes the texts' lack of an historical framework. Concludes students are taught neither historical truth nor critical analysis skills. (CH)

Designed to encourage informed and critical thinking on contemporary political issues and processes, the articles, case studies, and activities in this student handbook can be incorporated into secondary school social studies units on government or current events. Seven chapters cover the executive branch of government, Congress, the judiciary,…