The U.S. economy took a historic nosedive in 2007-2010. It was the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. However, evidence is emerging which suggests the country is in the midst of an economic recovery. In February 2010, the U.S. Commerce Department reported that GDP rose at a 5.9 percent annual rate in October through December…

In light of the goal of the Social Studies, the development of good citizens, the author explores the character of a necessary and sufficient" social studies program and its relationship to the Social Sciences. (JB)

A comparison of the Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary Schools (USMES) program with eight major goals for social studies identified in 1971 by the National Council for the Social Studies. USMES is weak in knowledge of a wider world, but is strong in real problem solving, cooperative efforts, and community involvement. (Author/AV)

In 1983, elementary and secondary teachers in West Germany were surveyed concerning the treatment of social themes in school curricula. As in a similar survey conducted in the United States, West German respondents indicated that every theme surveyed was important, with nuclear disarmament and environmental pollution clearly considered the most…

Compares 1989 National Commission on Social Studies in the Schools' report, "Charting a Course: Social Studies in the 21st Century," to a similar curricular endeavor during the 1930s. Finds the 1989 version conformist, narrow, prescriptive, overly content oriented, and not reflective of educational research. Because of its academic…