Stresses the need for law-related education early in the curriculum. Identifies appreciation of an ordered society, understanding of the mainstream value system, awareness of legal concepts, and recognition of the legal processes as important goals of these courses. Calls for fostering a positive self-image in students. (KO)

Analyzes the introduction and development of comprehensive education in the west of Scotland from 1965-80. Examines curriculum development, the role of the advisory service, the contribution of in-service training, and the ability grouping of students. Concludes that the efforts to help teachers with the transition had mixed results. (KS)

Notes that there is a rich literature within social studies education promoting the teaching of controversial issues. Observes that, despite this, teachers continue to be cautious, only giving controversies a token nod in curricula. Suggests four reasons why controversial content continues to be difficult for teachers to implement. (DSK)

Socioscientific issues encompass social dilemmas with conceptual or technological links to science. The process of resolving these issues is best characterized by informal reasoning which describes the generation and evaluation of positions in response to complex situations. This article presents a critical review of research related to informal…

Citizenship is defined as an informed and critical orientation that individuals bring to the examination of public affairs, an orientation that may or may not be supportive of established authority or prevailing views. It is argued that only through an interdisciplinary approach to the social studies curriculum can students properly be helped to…

This paper discusses some predictive problems, trends, and dilemmas regarding education for the 21st century, and asks what the future will demand of humankind. Such topics as the information explosion, the increasingly important learning needs in a changing world, and technology versus humanity are examined. Discussion focuses on the implications…

An overview of issues that will have an impact on educational practice in the 1980s is presented. Issues in the following areas are outlined: (1) control of education by states rather than by the federal government; (2) educational issues that should be the concern of the federal government; (3) education for the handicapped; (4) the future role…

Designed to offer a developing American Indian Studies program basic lecture topics and source materials, this guide presents a model for both a quarter and year's course (three quarters) in contemporary Indian issues suitable for study at the college level. Major themes for the quarter course are identified as: (1) how the institutional structure…

The purposes of this study were to develop social biology units emphasizing the social problems of pollution, drugs, and disease; and to assess the level of interest and acquired attitudes among students participating in the field test of the units. The three units written were: Pollution: A Threat to Your Community; Drugs, Life or Death; and…

The goal of this curriculum development project is to promote student initiated research into problems of the inner city. Initial project planning is reported in ED 055 012. Emphasis in this annual report is placed on the teacher's role in program development. The first section clarifies how the developers believe teachers should be involved in…

This publication presents guidelines to aid curriculum committees in the construction of elementary and secondary social studies programs which take account of the most current thinking. Fifteen guidelines, based on the components of knowledge, thinking, and social action, deal with purposes, content, and instructional strategies. Each guideline…

This four-part report from the Harvard Social Studies Project describes a secondary school curriculum based on an analysis of public controversy and developed to train students to examine, through discussion and argument, the kinds of disputes that cause social conflict. The first part of the report is a discussion of the curriculum approach which…

This study determines the effect a secondary school humanities program had upon the personal-social adjustment of its students as indicated by response to selected items in a problem checklist. The Mooney Problem Checklist, Form H (1950) was administered to 936 respondents, 454 males and 482 females. Response to all items (330) in the checklist…

The role of history in a modern social studies program is unclear. The reason for the weakening of history's place in the curriculum is also unclear since educators generally agree that history and literature should be the core subjects in any humanities or cultural studies program. The problems posed by history instruction in a modern educational…

Offers a conception of the K-12 social studies curriculum based upon a probing treatment of problems, ideas, and values of democracy. Maintains that democracy must be practiced in the schools if effective democratic citizenship is expected. Offers four guidelines for curriculum development, and identifies seven curriculum strands. (JDH)