Reports on the activities of the Soviet Union's Academy of Pedagogical Sciences for the year 1989. Discusses improvements in general education syllabus development, textbooks for various subjects, and Russian language, Soviet history, and social sciences instruction. Examines educational differentiation and humanization. Reports on improvements in…

Reviews criticism of history instruction and historical knowledge in the United States since 1939. Contends that critics have shared almost identical concerns during that period. Suggests that, although efforts must continually be made to strengthen history instruction, the "crisis" in history is ephemeral and usually linked to…

Describes the founding and evolution of "The Social Studies," by Albert E. McKinley in 1909. Identifies the struggle between historians and social studies educators for the "soul" of the magazine during the 1930s. Concludes that the magazine has served both history education and social studies education well. (CFR)

Contends that, in the past several years, the field of western U.S. history has been more vibrant and visible. Maintains that Patricia Nelson Limerick and others revived the field. Concludes that a new approach provides a better appreciation about what did happen and what was mythical in U.S. western history. (CFR)

Asserts that social studies or history methods textbooks do not enjoy the same popularity among teachers they once did. Reviews five texts used prior to 1910 and maintains that each contributed to the traditional history curriculum. (CFR)

This paper summarizes the suggestions offered by investigative committees of U.S. historians from the 1880s to the present concerning the importance of studying history in public schools, what should be included, and how it should be taught. An integrative approach to learning, combining history with English and geography, as suggested in reports…

Describes the origins, development, and products of the slow- learner social studies curriculum development project at Carnegie-Mellon University (Pennsylvania) in the late 1960s. Maintains that this project represented the last wave of curriculum projects to emerge from the national reform efforts following Sputnik. (CFR)

Presents reactions to a survey of attitudes toward history, historiography, and instruction among contemporary historians. Contends that both museums and universities are undergoing fundamental transformations and that more communication between historians and museum curators is desirable. (CFR)

Reviews descriptions of history courses in catalogs of 24 public universities from 1910-90. Finds consistent trends in the history curriculum to be expanding coverage of geographical areas; reduced coverage of specific historical periods; and a striking and recent expansion of subgroups. (CFR)

Reviews history education in Romania since the end of World War I. Focuses on the the 1970s when much emphasis was placed on a Marxist, nationalist-based approach to history. Reviews changes since 1990 and discusses difficulties in moving toward a more objective concept of historiography and pedogogy. (CFR)

Presents an interview with Russian Deputy Federal Minister of Education, V. K. Batsyn, concerning the significance and necessity of history instruction for students. Discusses the nature and purpose of history instruction under the old Marxist regime and describes the new methods and approaches being implemented. (MJP)

Maintains that, to write meaningful history, historians work implicitly with criteria of historical significance. Reports on a study of 14 10th-grade students' opinions about the significance of historical events. Concludes that attention to students' understanding of historical significance would enhance the teaching and learning. (CFR)

Asserts that electronic media will transform how historians conduct research, teach, and present the past. Maintains that CD-ROM technology offers exciting possibilities for historical research. Provides a bibliographic essay on 16 history-oriented CD-ROM products. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the impact of a transformative curriculum in social studies among 96 11th-grade students in a New York City high school. Illustrates problems teachers face when they assume that students are making the intellectual connections expected of them. (CFR)

Discusses how Cold War ideological models provide a way to examine the U.S. role in world affairs. Discusses and compares on the writings of Paul Gagnon and Noam Chomsky on this topic. Concludes that students should stand outside both models to develop a meaningful perspective on the U.S. role during the Cold War. (CFR)