The purpose of this paper is to explore face-to-face discussions and electronic threaded discussions. Forty high school students engaged in both face-to-face and threaded discussions during a world history course. Their comments and interactions were analyzed, and they revealed that both types of discussion hold promise for helping students…

Maintains that community service-learning, the integration of service with academic skills and content, can positively enhance students' future involvement in the social and political life of their communities. Discusses the historical roots of service in social studies education and analyzes the empirical evidence on student outcomes. (MJP)

Reiterates the need for an understanding of the concepts of continuity and change, not simply in the representation of historical events, but in the writing and study of history. Uses Thomas Hobbes's riddle of Theseus to illustrate the need for multiple readings and critical analysis in history instruction. (MJP)

Presents seven brief essays addressing recent research efforts and policy initiatives aimed at reforming the history curriculum. Notes that policy recommendations are rarely informed by research on either historical or pedagogical thinking. Authors include Keith C. Barton, Matthew T. Downey, Terrie L. Epstein, Linda S. Levstik, Peter Seixas,…

Reviews 20 years of research on gender issues and political attitudes during the high school years. Current research reveals no gender difference in levels of student political interest, efficacy, confidence, or trust. Interviews, however, suggests that females are more likely to express views on public policy. (MJP)

Advocates a broader conceptualization of citizenship, relying less on Cartesian and Aristotelian precepts, and incorporating postmodern feminist political theory. Identifies three theoretical phases leading to this conceptualization: past for the present, difference out of sameness, and rationality to subjectiveness. (MJP)

Provides an insightful examination of the school rituals, pressures, and socialization that contribute to the construction of a male gender identity. Includes a lengthy discussion by three male preservice teachers about their own experiences with socialization and gender identity. (MJP)

Discusses the relationship between teaching women's history in the Netherlands (where it is a compulsory secondary education subject) and the self-concept of women students. Examines three levels of women's history content included in the curriculum. Includes verbatim responses to the course from women students. (MJP)

Describes and illustrates the interaction between personal, policy, and organizational factors that influence teachers' decisions regarding content and teaching methods. Specifically questions how this information might be used in determining the efficacy of educational reforms. Includes verbatim comments from teachers and a sample of interview…

Investigates a variety of instructional strategies and teaching methods used in a graduate level multicultural education class. These included autobiographical analysis, role playing, and dialog journals, as well as, more traditional methods such as guest speakers and lectures. Discusses how the insights gained could be used in future research.…

Examines the inherent dichotomy between the competing needs of maintaining emotional safety and exploring sensitive issues in social studies classrooms. Argues that an effectively safe classroom can serve as a necessary backdrop for addressing controversial issues even in the earliest of grades. Maintains that most teachers simply ignore these…

A case study of a senior-level school economics course in which students are being introduced to a research assignment serves as an example of the application of a humanistic metaphor to the reporting of social studies teaching. Guidelines for constructing and writing such a report are presented. (RM)

Implications of the radical perspective for social studies are examined. This perspective suggests that (1) emancipation should be the guiding social ideal; (2) social life should be understood in terms of such concepts as domination, autonomy, contradiction, and the social construction of knowledge; and (3) teaching should emphasize the…

Level of teacher enthusiasm did not affect the academic achievement of three- and four-year-old children. However, differences were noted in student behavior. Children taught at a high level of enthusiasm were more attentive, interested, and responsive. (Author/RM)

This study that examined the economic reasoning of preschool and elementary school children concluded that (1) the nature of children's economic reasoning is supportive of cognitive development theory; (2) children's economic reasoning varies somewhat by personal experiences, and (3) the intermediate grades are an appropriate level to emphasize…