Academic freedom means that both social studies educators and students have the opportunity to engage in intellectual debate without fear of censorship or retaliation. Academic freedom gives both social studies educators and students the right to express their views--in speech, writing, and/or through electronic communication without fear of…

This article discusses how the divisive rhetoric of presidential candidate Donald Trump presents a challenge for teachers covering the presidential primaries in their classrooms. This article discusses democracy and the challenge of demagoguery, as well as pedagogical issues that teachers face while teaching in the time of Trump. The article…

Students often ask, "Why do we have to study history?" and teachers struggle with how to answer. If a history teacher's purpose is to simply teach students about historical events, then Dimension Four of the "College, Career and Civic Life (C3) Framework," "Communicating conclusions and taking informed action," seems…

This paper analyses the coverage of Indigenous topics in K-12 education in British Columbia (BC) using curriculum documents and course enrolment. It focuses on curriculum documents published between 1995 and 2010 and mandated in public education from 1995 to 2019, and argues that Indigenous topics were marginalized in the curriculum overall.…

This paper examines pedagogical responses to James Banks's concept of "failed citizenship," namely the structural factors that inhibit migrants and minorities from accessing fully functioning citizenship and their human rights. Banks commissioned and published 16 case studies of social studies teachers in different national contexts to…

The aim of this study is to investigate the self-efficacy perceptions of Social Studies teachers about the basic skills in the 2018 Social Studies curriculum. In Turkey, according to changes made in the Social Studies curriculum in 2018, Social Studies lessons are given to students in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades, and comprise 27 basic…

The United States' social and economic inequities stood in high relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, spotlighting the glaringly disproportionate systemic injustices related to public health and the economic impact on minoritized communities. Realities of structural and institutionalized racism and classism were exposed to greater degrees as we…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) moved to remote learning, which included distance learning, independent study, live online meetings, and completing assignments online or paper-based packets mailed to the home beginning on March 30, 2020. HISD extended remote learning through the end of the…

How can literacy learning occur effectively in a secondary school context? In this study, two experienced literacy leaders worked in collaboration with social studies teachers and a literacy facilitator to plan and implement an intervention designed to improve the literacy skills and knowledge of a small group of students, in the context of a Year…

The main purpose of this paper is to position Mishra and Koehler (2006) theoretical/conceptual framework "Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)" as a contingent solution to the future of Social Studies teaching and learning. This paper is to offer a contingent solution to the Ministry of Education, Ghana, on the challenges…

In Scotland, although there is no agreed definition of what constitutes the humanities, they have their locus principally within two of eight curricular areas in Curriculum for Excellence (CfE): Social Studies (SS) and Religious and Moral Education (RME). Both SS and RME are contexts for learning where broad principles apply in relation to…

The purpose of the study was to evaluate Ethiopian second cycle primary level Social Studies textbooks from multicultural perspectives. To this end, a content analysis research method was employed. The findings revealed that Ethiopian second cycle primary level Social Studies textbooks reflect multiculturalism. However, females were found…

This article explores examples of student-initiated inquiries (in Grades 1 and 5) and the opportunities and challenges with engaging in them. To explore these student-initiated inquiries, we use the "C3 Framework" Inquiry Arc (National Council for the Social Studies, 2013) and Harvey and Daniels's (2009) Small-Group Inquiry Model to…

We present results of a case study in which we analyzed the impact of problem-based learning (PBL) and cognitive scaffolding techniques introduced in our secondary social studies methods course on the perceptions and practices of 12 preservice teachers (PSTs) during their fall practicum and spring student teaching. Our PSTs reported teaching 54…

Students in secondary social studies examine descriptions of historical events and rhetoric by politicians that utilize the word and concept of evil. The label of evil can evoke specific images, feelings, and thoughts; oversimplify historical and contemporary situations; and decrease students' sense of agency. This phenomenographical study…