ERIC Number: ED152606
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1977-Nov-26
Pages: 15
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Reinterpreting the History of the Social Studies.
Robinson, Paul
While pointing out some of the criticism being leveled at the social studies in recent years, this paper suggests a need to reassess the historical development of the social studies as part of the public school curriculum. It argues that such a reassessment is needed to resolve present difficulties and effect future possibilities. The period 1890-1920 is crucial to examine. Concern during this period for the manner in which young people were educated to fulfill their political, social, and economic roles played a prominent role in the development of the social studies. Since sufficient historical perspective has not yet been obtained, three possible models are offered to interpret the formative history (1890-1920) of the social studies: the conventional model views its development as an inevitable outgrowth of national progress; the revisionist model saw it as an effort to produce quiescent labor for capitalistic enterprise; and the cultural politics model saw social study's emergence as a reaction to cultural disintegration. Since 1920 the direction of the social studies has been influenced by three competing traditions: the conventional tradition emphasizes social science content; the second tradition centers on inquiry process; and the third tradition focuses on citizenship. (Author/JK)
Descriptors: Advisory Committees, Attitude Change, Citizenship, Cultural Awareness, Cultural Pluralism, Curriculum Design, Curriculum Development, Curriculum Evaluation, Deduction, Educational Change, Educational History, Educational Needs, Educational Philosophy, Educational Trends, Elementary Secondary Education, History Instruction, Inquiry, Models, Public Schools, Secondary Education, Social Sciences, Social Studies, Social Values, Socialization
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at Annual Meeting of the College and University Faculty Association, National Council for the Social Studies (57th, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 23-26, 1977)