Since the beginning of public education in the United States, there has been a strong tradition of viewing schools as the mechanism for preparing young people for their role as citizens in a democratic society. Moreover, citizenship education has held a foundational place in social studies classrooms. However, despite this central focus of social…

The purpose of this paper is to take a closer look at the states that have designed strong history standards and note what has made them exceptional so other states might do the same. They include Alabama, California, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and South Carolina. The report draws on interviews with individuals from each state who sat on…

Social work faculty experience increasing demands to develop and maintain a research portfolio that includes external funding and publications. Given the increase in research expectations, more part-time instructors are needed to teach courses. In addition to the literature review, we briefly describe a pilot part-time faculty mentorship project…

In this article, the author addresses classroom teachers, department heads, and supervisors who have direct contact with students and what they learn. They need to tell students, parents, policymakers, and everyone else that social studies is critical and that the NCSS mission statement is not just a nice set of words, but absolutely crucial to…

In the current climate of accountability, action research is one way for teachers to evaluate instructional changes designed to improve assessment results. It may become increasingly common for administrators to mandate teacher involvement in action research, yet few studies have been conducted in such settings. This article focuses on one middle…

A case study approach was used to examine the perspectives of three high school department chairs and their work at providing instructional supervision to the teachers in their departments: math, science, and social studies. We sought to discover the beliefs and practices of three department chairs in one high school, located in a southeastern…

The role of social studies chairmen, as revealed in a survey of more than 200 in the area covered by the North Central Association, is depicted. The writers conclude that chairmen can provide instructional leadership but that they need support and authority to initiate this leadership. (Editor)

THE EFFECT OF FEEDBACK OF ACTUAL AND IDEAL BEHAVIOR RATINGS BY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS ON THEIR DEPARTMENT CHAIRMEN WAS STUDIED. IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT SUCH INFORMATION WOULD INFLUENCE THE BEHAVIOR OF DEPARTMENT CHAIRMEN IN WHAT THEIR TEACHERS DESCRIBED AS A DESIRABLE DIRECTION. THE VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE EXPERIMENT WERE COMPLETED BY 208…

To be effective teachers should have a knowledge of subject matter, the ability to organize and present material in a way that emphasizes broad concepts but makes practical application apparent, and model what they teach. They should also be able to keep their wits about them through many interruptions. (RM)

Data on secondary social studies education in Rhode Island public schools are analyzed. Of 36 schools contacted in 1982-83, 25 department chairpersons and 154 teachers responded to questionnaires covering professional background, chairperson role perceptions, faculty program perceptions, departmental offerings, and instructional techniques and…

The research examined innovativeness among high school social studies teachers and departments. Innovativeness is interpreted to include awareness and use of certain innovative practices (e.g., inquiry, values clarification, and community-based activities) and the "new social studies" materials, teacher participation in school decision-making…

The Laboratory staff reported the unit development and field test activities in their effort to collect, analyze, synthesize, and disseminate new curriculum developments in secondary level social studies to school curriculum decision makers. The audience consisted primarily of social studies teachers and department chairmen. To further refine and…

Investigates the role of social studies department heads and principals in five schools involved in a project studying higher-order thinking skills. Identifies similarities and differences between department heads and administrators. Develops indicators of the success of the five schools in promoting higher-order thinking in social studies…

The status of the affective domain in the secondary social studies curriculum in New Jersey is reported as part of a follow-up study. Qestionnaires administered to principals, social studies teachers, and department heads in 50 public senior high schools in 1964 were re-administered in 1974. Results on the following topics are reviewed: the focus…

Surveys levels of political tolerance among 152 U.S. government teachers and 96 social studies coordinators in Texas. Investigates attitudes toward various groups (e.g., neo-Nazis), and whether respondents felt that even disliked groups should be accorded their civil liberties. Concludes majority of these educators practiced what they taught.…