Although all of public education prepares students for the responsibilities of citizenship, the goal of providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to assume their roles as leaders in the state of Texas and in the nation in the 21st century rests primarily with the social studies. This framework provides information that local…

This highly acclaimed volume in the "Defending Public Schools" series is now available in paperback from Teachers College Press. It is a practical, necessary addition to the work of administrators, teachers, policymakers, and parents as they negotiate the difficult path of how to best teach and educate today's children and youth. This…

Two clashing positions about the social responsibility of educators and the main purpose of public schools are presented. According to the traditional position, the main purpose of public schools is transmission of a society's essential knowledge, skills, and values, which enables students to develop their capabilities to the fullest and to…

This handbook assists teachers, administrators, and other members of the educational community in avoiding inappropriate religious activities in the public schools as well as unnecessary interference with legitimate private religious expression by clarifying existing law. Participants in the Task Force on Religion and the Constitution represented…

This monograph focuses on the issue of the nature and purpose of the social studies curriculum. In the lead article, George Wood maintains that social studies as taught today is irrelevant and strives to produce citizens who are unquestioning supporters of U.S. political and economic institutions. Dr. Wood attributes this state of affairs to the…

This collection of materials is designed to assist Indiana educators, administrators, and communities with the textbook selection process. Criteria for making such selections is outlined in the following articles: (1) "Laws, Rules, and Guidelines for Teaching Social Studies in Indiana" (Victor A. Smith); (2) "Indiana's Recommended…

A 10-year study was done by the National Council of Social Studies of the Holt/Rhinehart/Winston elementary social science program, which was adopted by the Des Moines public schools in 1983. The program was found to be comprehensive and compatible with student mental development, emotional maturation, and interest level. This document presents…

Reprints the 1987 statement of the Administrative Board of the U. S. Catholic Conference concerning the public schools' responsibility to provide students with a basic value system. Links youth problems to the lack of moral education. Stresses the need for national discussion to examine how schools may best teach moral values. (CH)

The Department of Commerce in its highway safety conference made this pronouncement: "The problem of safety is closely linked with health, thrift, and many other elements which taken together make up the great problem of developing a finer citizenship. Educational leaders of the country are now endeavoring to weld together the essential elements…