These are solid grounds for examining again the definitions of social studies, and presuming that this examination will not be the last. The definition of social studies has significant implications for the school curriculum, teacher/classroom practice, the teacher education curriculum, and the forms of research valued in the field. Social studies, itself, is the subject of definition and debate about definition, as are all vital subject fields.
Certainly, the body of social studies content consists of definitions from the most trivial to the most significant for indi-viduals and for society. Knowledge is essentially a set of definitional statements, always under scrutiny and subject to change. Definitional questions are more than esoteric disputes among theoreti-cians. Our basic principles-justice, democracy, equality, integrity, loyalty, and honesty-are all dependent upon definition and evolving definition. Further, our concepts of quality and significance, whether in theory, scholarship, or practice, are based on definitional considerations some things are valued more than others, depending on definition. Our perspectives, polit-ical and educational, are colored by our definitions. Language use requires them interpreta-tion involves them judgment depends upon them. Our individual lives and our multiple cultures are intertwined with definitions. Social studies should be child centered and permit students to pursue topics of personal interest.PURPOSES, DEFINITION, AND DEBATE Definitions are significant. Social studies should focus on the big ideas of the social science disciplines, and the essential activity for children is problem solving. Social studies should develop democratic citizens who are more than loyal and patriotic good citizens are also critics of, and participants in, their government.
Social studies should be issues centered, as students search for answers to problems and dilemmas confronted by people today and in the past. Social studies should focus on the major events and important individuals in American history and seek to transmit to young people the American concepts of liberty and equality. Social studies should promote the acceptance of cultural diversity. Social studies should help students acquire knowledge, master the processes of learning, and become active citizens. 213)Ģ The ultimate goal of social studies teaching students-to help students think critically and to use what they know to be active citizens. (NCSS Task Force on Standards for Teaching and Learning in the Social Studies, 1993, p. The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world. Within the school program, social studies provides coordinated, systematic study drawing upon such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology, as well as appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences. Social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. Presentation on theme: "The meaning of Social Studies"- Presentation transcript:
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