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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)
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)