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)

Discusses recommendations for the change of social studies curricula made by the National Commission on Social Studies in the Schools (NCSSS). Suggests that classroom impact of the report will depend on who likes, who opposes, and who is apathetic to the recommendations. Argues that tradition, state control of public education, and the textbook…

Maintains that the world is nearing the end of a great age of democratic revolutions. Asserts that civic or citizenship education is in danger of being sidetracked by the national educational reform movement. Argues that "CIVITAS," a civic education curriculum framework, provides a model for effective citizenship education. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the free response essays in the Advance Placement U.S. history test from 1963-92. Asserts that there were four significant transition years: 1964, 1965, 1973, and 1976 and predicts another in 1994. Presents data indicating trends toward social history, cultural pluralism, and economic/business topics. (CFR)

This article explores some of the debates about the nature and purpose of education in the social sciences in the Australian curricula. It examines recent attempts in studies of society and environment and history curricula to prepare students for global citizenship and responds to neo-conservative critiques that our "politically…

When James Conant, former president of Harvard University, took on the topic of teacher preparation in his 1963 report "The Education of American Teachers," he demanded sweeping change. Conant's reform agenda, which focused on reshaping the educational establishment in America, took on the National Education Association and National…

Proceedings of a conference held to discuss the problems of teaching world history are reported. Eight papers are presented. The first four address the issue of world history as an academic discipline. In "The World History Survey Course" William McNeill argues that major curriculum changes take place in this country only when sound pedagogical…

This report contains the following white papers commissioned for the Forum on the Future of Technology in Education: Envisioning the Future to explore a variety of perspectives related to the future of technology in education, as well as the topics of "e-learning" and technology and disability: (1) "Technology in K-12 Education:…

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…

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)

Recounts the evolution of the author's awareness of the importance of women's history. Discusses the strengths and limitations of three general paradigms for teaching and learning about women in history: the "great woman" model; the "women as victims" model; and the "women as historical supplement" model. (LS)

Discusses the controversy surrounding the National Standards for World History and the National Standards for United States History. Maintains that people are finding out how unjust the criticism of the History Standards is. Includes supportive quotes about the standards from teachers and historians. (CFR)

Suggests that educational researchers can strengthen history education by promoting educational equity and access to students not motivated by traditional approaches to teaching history. Discusses changes being considered for history education. Explains that some students may interpret primary sources or relate them to historical trends through…

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)

Discusses changes in history textbooks and historical research during the past three decades. Asserts that popular history and social history are emphasized much more than in the past. Recommends that teachers experiment with new ways of teaching history, including using photographs, music, and other primary sources. (CFR)