When the colonies were founded and public education established, promoting citizenship was one of the primary goals. Since then, public schools have sought to include some form of promoting good citizenship. This has taken various forms, but the primary vehicle has been the instruction of civics, history, and what later became to be known as social studies.
Social studies instruction expanded and eventually included instruction about culture and geography, adding to its original conception of citizenship and American history.
Promoting Civic Engagement
Social studies instruction is integral to the promotion of civic engagement. Students are given an overview of American Democracy, including learning about the American Constitution, the basic rights of every citizen, the importance of having free and fair elections, and the role that individuals and groups of citizens play within the democracy. This, of course, is tiered to understanding of the particular grade levels.
The best hope is for students to come away with a deep appreciation and respect for American democracy and the rights it affords each individual. It should be contrasted with alternative forms of government such as dictatorships, communist regimes, and monarchies. Through these comparisons, students can learn to appreciate the rights and privileges they may otherwise take for granted.
Fostering Cultural Understanding
Progressives have succeeded in adding a deeper awareness of culture and incorporating that into social studies instruction. This has been part of a larger movement that began in the 1960’s and continues to this day. The Civil Rights Movement led the fight for equal rights for African American citizens in the deep South, specifically for voting and equal accommodation rights.
With this movement came greater emphasis on acceptance of various cultures. social studies curriculum built on these themes and instruction took on a wider scope. Multiculturalism eventually became an accepted aspect of social studies classes. In addition to teaching about individual Constitutional rights, free and fair elections and civic engagement, teachers now discussed the importance of valuing the differing cultures that comprised the American Melting Pot.
This wasn’t without controversy. This debate has only intensified over the years; the failure of progressives and conservatives to reach practical solutions and compromise has thrust public education into the political spotlight. In the meantime, social studies instruction will continue to have a multicultural facet throughout the public-school world and an accompanying pushback.
Building Historical Knowledge
It is vital for students to understand the historical basis and foundation of the rights enshrined in our Constitution. Without the proper historical context, there can be no understanding of the origin of these rights. Social studies classes cover a lot of U.S. and world history. How much depends on the curriculum of individual states and school districts. I personally would like to see more significant instruction of U.S. and world history.
Moreover, in the elementary school grades, social studies (as well as science) seem to have taken a backseat to the two tested subjects: language arts literacy and mathematics. This has led to many districts incorporating social studies and science into writing class. The subjects have not been given full treatment and many students fail to display adequate knowledge of American and world history.
Developing Geographical Literacy
Geography instruction has also fallen victim to the overemphasis on language arts literacy and mathematics, the two main subject darlings of standardized testing. As a result, many students lack basic geographical knowledge and skills. Social studies class should be an opportunity for students to master the core elements of geography, including distinguishing between the varying types of political territories and bodies of water.
My hope is that we will these subjects taking on an equal importance to language arts and math. Students need to have a thorough understanding of their history and government and a basic understanding of the countries throughout the world. They are not required to be technical experts, nor should they be ignorant of them. These same students will eventually be adults who are able to exercise political influence throughout the country. A fundamental knowledge of government, history, and geography is vital among the citizenry to maintain our democracy and uphold the values it promotes.
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