The 60's was not a period of innovation in social studies curriculum. The profession demonstrated little conviction as to the function and potential of social studies in general education; rather, it responded to "what others wanted done." The social studies were discipline oriented, dominated by the scientific method (inquiry and discovery) and the traditional historical orientations. Students would have preferred the function of social studies and the schools to be what was called for by prominent social studies specialists of the 30's: self-fulfillment, consideration of relevant social problems, the criticism of failures of the system, and the building of a new social order. The 70's may bring a marked shift of emphasis. (This paper will be published later by the Social Science Education Consortium). (DB)