Teaching students to act as citizens significantly enhances preparation for college and career. It is incumbent upon the National Council for the Social Studies to provide guidance to states and local districts to develop social studies standards to achieve this goal. The recommendations presented here focus on the principle that standards…

Within the United States, education has long been valued as a means of fostering the growth and development of each person in order to realize the democratic ideals of freedom, equality, non-discrimination, and respect for the rights of all. In an increasingly globalized world and within the United States itself, this growth and development must…

In this article, the author addresses classroom teachers, department heads, and supervisors who have direct contact with students and what they learn. They need to tell students, parents, policymakers, and everyone else that social studies is critical and that the NCSS mission statement is not just a nice set of words, but absolutely crucial to…

"We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution" is a national civic education program that aims to help elementary and secondary students understand the history and principles of constitutional government. The program focuses on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and fosters civic competence and responsibility among students in…

If students are to fulfill their obligations and rights as U.S. citizens they must develop the ability to make careful judgements, based on a reasoned historical perspective and a meaningful conception of the basic democratic values underlying citizenship in our constitutional order. To this end, an agenda of 12 core civic values that are…

U.S. Secretary of Education, William J. Bennett, expressed concerns about the condition of U.S. education in the areas of content, character, and choice. This document comprises the papers of 12 scholars on the public policy and the research implications of this theme. Three addresses were given on the issue of content by Russell Kirk, Thomas…

Asserts schools in contemporary society have lost their internal compass and reason for being. Argues primary goal of education is provide young people with common intellectual resources to participate productively, exert intellectual and political leadership, participate actively in democratic society. Argues social studies teachers must…

Although all of public education prepares students for the responsibilities of citizenship, the goal of providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to assume their roles as leaders in the state of Texas and in the nation in the 21st century rests primarily with the social studies. This framework provides information that local…

CIVITAS is a curriculum framework that sets forth a set of national goals to be achieved in a civic education curriculum, primarily for K-12 public and private schools. It is a framework that proposes to specify the knowledge and skills needed by citizens to perform their roles in U.S. democracy. There are two major sections in the framework. It…

One of a series of booklets designed to make available to a wide audience thoughtful perspectives on issues of domestic and foreign policy, this booklet contains two essays which provide a solid base for elementary and secondary teachers to communicate the nature of America's place in the world, its responsibilities, ideals, and traditions to…

Asserts that the status of civics, a formal course of instruction in middle/junior high schools, is alarming. Maintains that civic or citizenship education is the central purpose of social studies. Provides a context and suggested content for a civics course. (CFR)

Asserts that, for citizens in a democracy to understand and act upon complex societal issues, they must be able to integrate knowledge from a variety of subjects. Traces the history of interdisciplinary social studies education and examines arguments of its supporters and detractors. (CFR)

This booklet introduces ideas and materials for Law Day activities. Celebrated on May 1, Law Day is an annual opportunity to expand awareness of U.S. laws and the justice system and their valuable impact on our lives. The primary purpose of Law Day is to provide the opportunity for the public to reflect on U.S. legal heritage, the role of law in…

Offers information useful to educators interested in implementing community-service programs. Provides estimates of students' participation in community service in U. S. high schools; describes the nature of the programs and students' experiences; and reports data which illustrate that the potential for influencing civic responsibility may not yet…

Contends that citizenship and democracy are two of the most overused words in social studies classrooms. Maintains that schools must walk a tightrope between those fostering patriotic attitudes and those fostering critical-mindedness and protest. Includes four suggestions for critical thinking in social studies. (CFR)