In this article, the author relates the changing nature of international conflict and peacemaking since the end of the cold war to the development of a school curriculum that focuses on pressing international issues that are shared by people around the world. He also analyzes the implications of the changing world for curriculum development and…

Presents a paper delivered in Poland in 1989 and in five additional Eastern European cities in 1990. Defines democracy and suggests ways to teach about democratic government. Explores education's role in a democracy. Encourages student participation in student government, classroom discussion, community service, and research projects to give them…

Presents a dialogue between Socrates and his Athenian admirers regarding the importance of educating youth for responsible citizenship. The manuscript was recently discovered by archivists of the Greek government and is assumed to be a record of a dialogue that occurred immediately after Socrates had been poisoned for his role in corrupting the…

Traces the development of the U.S. juvenile justice system. Delineates procedures of the contemporary juvenile justice system and provides hypothetical cases for teaching concepts related to it. (BSR)

Maintains that recent statements from United States Department of Education officials are in direct opposition to National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) curriculum guidelines. Provides examples from seven high school textbooks to demonstrate accurate treatment of totalitarian regimes and urges social studies educators to oppose official…

Advocates an activist, child-centered learning environment which will allow young children an opportunity to develop communication skills, rudimentary skills of critical analysis, and citizenship values such as responsibility and respect. Describes learning activities which will foster early citizenship development and provides two lesson plans…

The challenge to the curriculum specialist is to determine objectives for citizenship which consider the varied democratic principles and societal value demands, and to create a cooperative professional relationship between the college-level and school level curriculum specialist. (Author/KM)

Three steps are suggested to improve the social and political positions in our country and to approach the goal of American democracy: (1) citizens must learn the rules of the game, (2) have a willingness to acknowledge the existence of problems, and (3) develop civic competence. (Author/JB)

Advocates an approach for teaching the civic education component of the social studies curriculum based on the teaching of political science. "Citizenship Decision-Making" materials are described as an example of curricula which conceptualize politics by permitting students to examine their own political experiences in comparison with the adult…

Social studies teachers face significant challenges. Because the challenges are substantial, teachers need to help students develop habits of heart and mind that use and transcend the academic content of formal classroom lessons. Yet, students feel pressure to perform well on standardized measures of achievement, so their teachers focus on…

In this article, the authors offer social studies educators two student-centered, inquiry-based techniques to help students learn about the contributions of historical figures. Both strategies were classroom tested and proved effective at helping students learn about historical figures in a challenging and enjoyable way. Although techniques in…

States that content area writing is an essential component in social studies in order to develop critical and reflective thinking. Points out ways of encouraging and developing student writing skills. to enhance this type of thinking. Provides five examples of writing assignments. (BSR)

A local educational agency in St. Louis, the Citizenship Education Clearinghouse (CECH), works with schools to make real participation in community civic, governmental, and political affairs a possibility for students. Three CECH models for student participation in issues of national concern, in state politics, and in local issues are described.…

Described is a three-day political awareness program held prior to the 1980 election to help secondary students and community members examine the political process from a more holistic viewpoint. The program brought in a variety of speakers, including media persons, sociologists, political scientists, a lawyer, and a mayor, as well as political…

Discusses the problems created by an emphasis on the structure of the disciplines in social studies, and recommends alternatives that place more importance on self-realization within community." An appendix points up major trends in academic reform movement in social studies. (JB)