Blacks, especially Black historians, have a responsibility to define new standards for evaluating the past, rather than using the ideologies and criteria of Whites. (Author/MC)

The seven chapters of this theme issue are concerned with how individuals learn and reason in the subject matter domain of history. In this general context, there is a more specific focus on historical explanation and understanding. These chapters explore what should be taught in history and how it should be taught. (SLD)

Discusses personal reasons for using historical documents in history instruction. Proposes six reasons why the use of documents in the classroom yields positive learning results. Concentrates on how the use of documents motivates students to read. Provides an example of a document and explains how it is used in the classroom. (RW)

Discusses the purposes of history in the curriculum. Presents several examples of using history to explain contemporary events. Argues that historical knowledge is essential for effective citizenship in a democratic society. (CFR)

Examines ways in which history/social studies educators might respond to the challenges posed by the critical literature in and about history in order to reconsider why we learn history, what we do (and could do) with it, and for what (and whose) purposes. (CMK)

Changes in university history curricula were studied through examination of course titles and abstracts from 335 university catalogs representing 89 countries, 1895-1964. Findings demonstrate that decreasing curricular emphases on Western civilization, metropolitan centers, and nation-states and increasing attention to subnational and…

In this article, the author reviews his unsuccessful and successful strategies for teaching research and analytical skills, which illustrate changes in his assumptions about and attitude toward teaching. Older and perhaps wiser as well, the author no longer assumes that students already know how to do what teachers expect them to be able to do by…

This presentation of informal responses to a series of questions relating to teaching and writing of history is based upon and extends from two tape-recorded "Conversations" with Professors Jere R. Daniell and Charles T. Wood of the Dartmouth College Department of History. The book covers such questions as what a historian is, why one should study…

Because students should not only know stories about the past, but also understand the interpretive nature of historians' work, this study sought to discover whether instruction can develop elementary students' ability to engage in some aspects of historical interpretation. The study focused on fifth grade students. The research consisted of direct…

This document addresses the importance of teaching contemporary history. The failure to teach contemporary history leaves students ill equipped to deal with the present and the future, and also ensures that they will have little interest in the history of other times. Because memory is the central organizing principle in peoples minds, the…

The author examines the reasons for the current interest in local history and discusses the thematic approach as that most favorable for the study of local history. (DE)

The authors describe the development and implementation in British schools of their family history project. The student and his social setting, the childhood of his parents and grandparents, and the methods of the historian are combined for effective course content. (DE)

Inquiry learning is superior to traditional learning methods in that it requires students to actively participate in their courses by solving meaningful problems. Included here is a description of the six steps of the inquiry learning process and a complete lesson plan on mobility in nineteenth century American cities. (DC)

The legend of the gunfighter-lawman, frontier justice, and the extent of violence in western history are suggested as possible course content to make history more relevant and interesting. (DE)

The booklet is designed to help social studies teachers initiate oral history projects. Preceding the two major sections of the document, the authors specify that oral history is more than a person with a tape recorder; need not be transcribed to be useful; need not be a big project; and is not the final product of history. The next section…