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 understand social problems in all their complexities. Such an approach requires not only being open to the insight that various disciplines may offer in a given situation, but also viewing the content of the subject matter taught as inexorably linked with the process by which it is taught. Challenges to reforming the social studies curriculum are identified as community-parent and special interest groups, teacher preparation, student expectations, and student learning gains. A list of questions is provided that is designed to help those interested in curriculum reform to assess the environment in which reform is to occur. Such questions include: Are teachers prepared to initiate and implement such a curriculum? Who are the resisters? Who are the support groups? and Do principals and teachers share decision making responsibilities? (DB)