Students need the thinking skills necessary to function in today's complex society and in an ever increasingly interdependent world. Social studies, through its various disciplines, is the appropriate place in the school to develop and practice the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate government policies and possible solutions to…

Contrasts two approaches to achieving depth in an 8th grade U.S. history class. One presents a detailed and chronological approach, the other a discipline-based matrix structure with chronological and regional evolutions as a backdrop. Favors stressing major principles and generalizations while focusing in depth on prototypical examples. (MJP)

Addresses some of the problems facing the educational system of Hungary as it moves from a Marxist perspective to a system attempting to inculcate democratic principles. Most Hungarians are optimistic although the old system was entrenched and enforced for many years. Includes comments from many citizens. (MJP)

Presents the National Council for the Social Studies' position paper on character education. Calls for a renewed effort by social studies educators, schools, and communities to teach character and civic virtue. Argues that students must be offered a combination of instruction and guidance on civic virtue to counter increasing indifference. (MJP)

Describes how the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) grew into a major professional organization during the years 1947-1968. Discusses the NCSS response to domestic and social issues such as civil rights, the Cold War, and educational reform following Sputnik. (CFR)

Ethnic studies should be viewed as a process of curriculum reform that will result in the creation of a new curriculum that is based on new assumptions and new perspectives, and which will help students to gain novel views of the American experience and a new conception of what it means to be American. (Author)

The scientific method and questionning techniques are the basis for a beginning program of descriptive research for elementary students. (JR)

Teaching activities for primary and intermediate grades that allow a refocus of existing curricula to accommodate career development objectives are suggested. (Author/JR)

A simulation, entitled Truth in Advertising, is presented to provide upper elementary students with a frame of reference with which to assess the advertising they encounter and to make them aware of the rules of fair practices in the market place. (JR)

Trends in the production of social studies instructional media are described. (DE)

Strategies for conducting moral discussions in the classroom are provided. (DE)

Proposes in-service training on the utilization of ancillary personnel (special education teacher, school nurse, hearing and speech clinician, guidance counselor) in assisting the social studies teacher with the mainstreamed student. Outlines how ancillary personnel may aid in preparing students for entrance into the regular classroom, developing…

Presents samples of 15 styles of Arabic script for a verse from the Koran. The introduction briefly describes semitic language structure. (Author/DB)

U.S. history is an ideal subject in which to inculcate skepticism and to teach critical thinking skills. High school students who read and analyze rival interpretations of history come to expect that there is more than one viewpoint to most historical topics. Sample lessons are presented. (RM)

In 1981, the Boston Public Schools embarked on a program to develop new, city-wide curriculum objectives and tests in all subject areas. This article examines the state of K-8 social studies as they found it and discusses the philosophy and goals of the new curriculum. (RM)