Responds to the article "Opportunities Lost: Teachers Learning about the New York State Social Studies Framework" by S. G. Grant. Contests ideas on the professional development opportunities used with the New York social studies framework. Considers the intentions of the professional development as political and the role of assessment. (CMK)

Responds to the article "Opportunities Lost: Teachers Learning about the New York State Social Studies Framework" by S. G. Grant. States that Grant loses an opportunity to provide the type of social analysis needed to extricate teacher educators from their complicity in New York State's regulation of teaching by misconstruing constructivism. (CMK)

Responds to the articles "Another Opportunity Lost?: Maybe Professional Development Experiences Aren't Supposed to Teach Teachers Anything about the New York State Social Studies Framework" by Sandra Mathison and "Misconstruing Constructivism and State Regulation of Teaching (Unlearning What We Know about Educational Reforms)" by Stephen C.…

Explores what comprises the history taught in school over the past century, focusing on two trends: (1) a broader scope of history to include a history of the world; and (2) within U.S. history, a movement from purposeful exclusion of cultures and people to marginal inclusion. Advocates an inclusive and coherent history. (CMK)

Explores social education and the nature of social knowledge, focusing on reconstructivism, John Dewey's criticism of reconstructivism, the two developments that unraveled the reconstructionist counter-socialization argument, and the current emphasis in social education on the loss of respect for the core values and objective methods for…

Reflects on the influence of the climate and trends in social studies on the author's professional life. States that the College and University Faculty Assembly (CUFA) changed as an organization, reflecting the changes in social studies. Addresses the relationship and tensions between CUFA and the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS).…

Reviews the past 25 years of the journal "Theory and Research in Social Education," exploring the advent of historical research within the journal's content to the publication of historical research as very typical. Indicates a maturation of social studies regarding research, considering the caveats of historical research. (CMK)

Addresses the problems of standards-based reforms and testing, specifically in New York State. Asserts that community members, such as teachers, students, and parents, must be allowed to participate in educational reforms of teaching and learning conditions. (CMK)

Examines fourth and fifth graders' ideas about historical evidence through a year-long qualitative study of two classrooms. Discusses the results, focusing on understanding the reliability of sources, evaluating evidence and reconciling conflicting accounts, and using evidence to reach conclusions. Addresses the implications for instruction. (CMK)

Explores whether problem-based learning experiences foster a more thoughtful learning environment than other educational experiences that prospective social studies teachers encounter. Reveals that the beginning teachers viewed problem-based learning as more thoughtful and investigates whether this finding can be associated with overcoming the…

Examines the perspectives that second career teachers, with prior military experience, bring to the teaching profession, specifically to social studies. Uses a life history methodology. Explores case studies of four second career military teachers and suggests a tendency to maintain traditional instructional practices in social studies. (CMK)

Explores the presentation of slavery in U.S. history textbooks from 1900 to 1992 with respect to changing ideologies. Identifies five ideological patterns: (1) a neutral presentation; (2) justifying its existence; (3) a necessary evil; (4) Un-American; and (5) a reflection of Conservative values. (CMK)

Offers examples of collaboration between teachers and university professors. Provides an overview of the past twenty-five years of social studies research and reform. Argues for the importance of reconceptualizing the traditional school/university relationship to overcome barriers between teachers and researchers. (CMK)

Explains that educational research in social studies must identify the practices contributing to children's well-being. Argues that research in social studies should be conducted within real school settings and must focus on the consequences of educational practice for children's development. (CMK)

Discusses the need for content-method realignment in social studies education by focusing on the content of social studies, particularly history. Addresses three issues: (1) history is a matter of assigning meaning to facts; (2) the significance of historical knowledge varies; and (3) the historical knowledge of greatest social value is…