From its beginning, UNESCO made education for international understanding in school history and geography a priority. As these were the areas where children were most likely to encounter nationalism in state schools, a reform of these subjects was critical to the success of education for international understanding. The experience of two world…

A revision of the Northern Ireland Primary Curriculum took place in 2007. It promotes strongly a cross-curricular or thematic approach to planning and teaching and has an "Area of Learning" structure which includes geography alongside history and science and technology in an area called "The World Around Us". Responses from…

One way that people learn, remember and communicate is visually. We combine past experiences with new visual information to construct meaning. In this study, elementary teachers introduced their students to the peoples and places of the ancient silk routes using illustrations from two children's picture books, "Marco Polo," written by…

Argues that dispute between history and social studies in the curriculum is not recent but goes back 75 years. Asserts the term "social studies" is not a separate discipline but simply an umbrella term to describe the broad field of social subjects offered in the school curriculum. Calls for an end to the dispute between history and…

Discusses the French educational reforms between 1969 and 1985, examining their effects on the teaching of history and geography, which are mandatory throughout pre-university education. Writing for elementary school teachers, Marbeau considers the construction of knowledge in children aged 6 to 11, in history, geography, and the social sciences.…

Contends that U.S. educational change is characterized by several factors including rapid demographic shifts, new research into the nature of teaching and learning, and dissatisfaction with students' achievement on national tests. Includes an annotated bibliography of 16 ERIC articles and documents on the topic. (CFR)

This report is the result of three years of continuous inquiry by the Committee on Social Studies of the National Education Association's Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education. The committee as a whole met at various times in each of these years, subcommittees met on other occasions, and individual members designated by the…

Reports on efforts to develop "Crossroads," a K-16 articulated, content-based, spiral curriculum in United States history. Discusses the historical framework underlying the curriculum. Presents the curriculum's 12-era chronology and 8 substantive themes. (CFR)

This book defines a good education and offers parents a plan of action for ensuring that their children achieve it. Drawing from the goals that William Bennett enumerated as Secretary of Education, excerpts from Hirsch's Core Knowledge Sequence, and current research, this book sets forth curricula and specific objectives for children from…