Discusses the Maryland Test of Citizenship Skills and the controversy surrounding its adoption. Presents results of a study of teachers' attitudes toward the test and remediation efforts. Concludes that competency-based testing discourages higher level thinking but encourages recall. Suggests that performance on the test does not reflect students'…

An ad hoc committee of National Council for the Social Studies members conducted a study to determine significant content for social studies education and the grade levels in which it should be taught. The findings are listed by subject matter, concepts, and grade level. (AM)

Explores a variety of ways that research into the learning of values can influence values education. Five generalizations and implications are presented. Conclusions show that more is known about what is ineffective in values education than what is effective. (CK)

Jean Piaget's cognitive theory was used to investigate the economic reasoning of children and adolescents. Findings indicate student reasoning becomes more abstract, other directed, and flexible with increasing age; five concepts are prerequisites to understanding other economic concepts; and the rate at which economic reasoning develops varies by…

Both teachers and students can use experimental research methods in the classroom. (JR)

This article presents 11 generalizations which summarize Lawrence Kohlberg's research into cognitive moral development. (DE)

To test materials and teaching strategies for a public issues curriculum, staff members of the Project planned, taught, and evaluated a three-year experimental program in a large high school. Evaluation data is presented. (JB)

Describes five recent studies by the authors on the effects of teacher enthusiasm on secondary social studies achievement. Study results indicate that students can perceive differences in teacher enthusiasm. Students prefer higher levels of enthusiasm and appear to learn more from lessons taught enthusiastically. (AM)

Discusses and explains experimental validity, including both internal and external validity, in terms that a classroom teacher can understand and use in his own research. (CK)

Elementary and secondary students do not consider social studies to be very important because it has little meaning for their future lives. Students do not find social studies particularly interesting. They feel that both social studies subject matter and teaching methods are boring. (RM)

Reports results of a national survey which measured current tendencies and major changes in social studies education in American schools. Findings indicate that social studies has suffered from proliferation of mini-courses, lack of funding, greater freedom of teaching, increased local options, and decline of social studies in elementary grades.…

Discusses five generalizations based on political education correlational research and assesses their implications for teachers of citizenship education. Conclusions include: l) knowledge can be influenced more directly than attitudes, 2) the quality of civics instruction is critical in shaping attitudes, and 3) a more realistic picture of…

Summarizes the topics covered in the resolutions passed by the House of Delegates including academic freedom, racial and ethnic content of instructional materials, research in social studies, early childhood/elementary social studies, instruction regarding religious freedom, apartheid, and astronaut Christa McAuliffe. (JDH)

Results of a national survey of population education activities by 647 secondary school social studies teachers are reported that detail differences in teacher characteristics and course characteristics. Data tables are provided. (ND)

Investigates citizenship education in five different countries over ten years: (1) Denmark; (2) Germany; (3) the United States; (4) the Netherlands; and (5) England. Focuses on adolescents, ages 14 to 19, within secondary schools using questionnaires and interviews with students and teachers. (CMK)