Social Studies Matters John R. Doyle

Social Studies Matter

The effort to add social studies to the FCAT testing program fell short despite unprecedented support from former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, former U.S. Rep. Lou Frey, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Fred Lewis, leaders in the House and the Senate, leading civic and historical organizations and newspaper editorial boards across the state. While the need to add social studies to the FCAT is debatable, the need to teach social studies content and skills is not.

The evidence that our state and nation are failing to hold schools and students accountable for the content and skills taught in social studies is clear. As reported by the National Council for the Social Studies, The Nation's Report Card: U.S. History 2006 and The Nation's Report Card: Civics 2006 reveal important and alarming data about the achievement of U.S. students on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in history and civics. The reports indicate that fourth, eighth and 12th graders know only slightly more about history and civics today than in the 1990s. The NAEP assessment is one of many reports signaling the need to revitalize social-studies education in our nation's schools.

Clearly, the need to teach social studies in grades K-12 is more important today than ever before. The many disciplines found under the social-studies umbrella provide students with opportunities to learn the skills they need to be effective citizens in a culturally diverse society and an interdependent world.

Whether it's through a history course where students learn how the events of the past connect to the present or a geography course where students learn the importance of developing a global perspective or a civics course where students learn how to influence public policy, what students learn in social studies will help make them knowledgeable and responsible citizens. Effective social-studies programs prepare students to understand:

• The history of our nation and world so that they can make informed choices and decisions in the present.

• Civic values and practices so that they can participate fully in our democratic society.

• Diverse cultures so that they can relate to people in our nation and throughout the world.

• Physical and cultural geography so that they can see the relationship that exists between human beings and their environment.

• The realities of global interdependence so that they can contribute to solutions to global issues.

The challenge is clear and important. Until social studies is recognized as an academic subject on equal footing with reading, writing, mathematics and science, our state and nation will continue to struggle to produce students who possess the knowledge, skills and civic values necessary to participate in our nation's democracy and in an increasingly interdependent world. All states, including Florida, need to make a stronger commitment to supporting and improving social-studies education for all students.

John R. Doyle is director of social sciences curriculum and instruction for the Miami-Dade School District.

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