The Supreme Court clearly bases the creation of new rules on its own personal predilections not by the phrases of the Constitution nor in terms of the expressed intentions of those who wrote the Constitution. The court might not be so popular if people knew what it is really doing. (RM)

Illustrates two types of studies undertaken in librarianship using political theories or concepts--institutionally focused and behaviorally focused. The nature of political inquiry, conceptual frameworks for understanding political science, methodology and research design, and explanations of the dearth of politically based research are discussed.…

A successful civic education program is one that educates citizens in the basic principles and precepts of the American political system and keeps citizens informed on specific issues and controversies. Jefferson and Lincoln both supported the sentiment that civic education must address basic principles as well as specific issues. (RM)

Goal selection and specification for a course on international relations are discussed by explicating related problems and issues, learning theories, and educational objectives. (ND)

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a survey of U.S. student knowledge and skills in different subjects at grades four, eight, and 12. NAEP combines samples of performances to provide information about the knowledge and skills of students in the United States as a whole, in each participating state, and in different…

This study investigates the social studies teaching practices of sixty-seven elementary teachers who are part of an alternative master's degree program in New York City. The respondents' program emphasizes constructivist and inquiry based teaching practices in its social studies methods courses. The findings are from an exit survey that was…

In this lesson plan, students are assigned a member of the California Assembly to research and a political faction to represent. Students examine representative bills voted on by the California Assembly to determine if their member's voting record coincides with the views of their political faction. Ultimately, students must decide whether, and…

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has designated the week of September 17-21, 2001, as "Back to School Week." During this week, state legislators from throughout the country are encouraged by NCSL to contact principals and teachers in their respective districts and arrange for classroom visits to help students…

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has designated the week of September 17-21, 2001, as "Back to School Week." During this week, state legislators from throughout the country are encouraged by NCSL to contact principals and teachers in their respective districts and arrange for classroom visits to help students…

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has designated the week of September 17-21, 2001, as "Back to School Week." During this week, state legislators from throughout the country are encouraged by NCSL to contact principals and teachers in their respective districts and arrange for classroom visits to help students…

Civic education is essential to sustaining constitutional democracy. Each new generation presents a new group of people who must acquire the knowledge, learn the skills, and develop the disposition or traits of private and public character that undergird a constitutional democracy. Citizenship training means teaching students to think critically,…

The revised North Carolina Standard Course of Study has moved from a detailed, prescriptive curriculum guide to a more flexible instructional guide, emphasizing what students should know and be able to do as they progress through various levels of proficiency and ultimately exit from high school. The revised curriculum focuses on themes and…

These newsletter volumes deal with topics in U.S. history, world history, and U.S. government relating to the Bill of Rights. The newsletters present background information for classroom reading, in some instances provide a list of topical issues, and offer activities for discussion and writing. Some of the topics considered in the newsletters…

The promotion of selected student behaviors and awareness of the social construction of reality'' appear to be as severely neglected outside of the social studies as within. The directions and tools to end this aspect of educational lag are available and need only be implemented. (Author/CB)

Paper presented at the Fifteenth Duke University Conference on Teaching the Social Studies.