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Social studies introduced to public schools
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Social studies wars
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Reactions to the report on social studies
The report of the Committee on Social Studies of the National Education Association's Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education the report attempted to place all of the social sciences all under one class called Problems of Democracy. It was met with mixed results and never gained much head way and all together disappeared from schools in the 1970's. -
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The Rug textbook controversy
Harold Rugg was a social re-constructionist they believe that the schools should direct social change. The series of textbooks designed by him held many social criticisms and asked questions about the government's role in matters concerning capitalism to put it broadly. This was met with many critics that claimed he was trying to convert American youth to communism. This was used to make the social sciences as unamerican, thus vilifying social studies. -
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The Controversy over American History
During this time frame social studies specifically American history was not required or more accurately 22 states had no law. Teachers and education in general were blamed for these lack of laws further damning social studies in the mind of the public. -
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The Cold War Years
During this period of time social studies was further undermined by events like the red scare as well as the fear of another more destructive world war with the Soviet Union. This caused restrictions on what could be taught and how it could be taught similar to scopes trial except instead of evolution it was communism. -
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The Revival of History
This called for the revival of social studies and called for it to be taught more in schools, undoing what was done in the 1950's. This led to an increase in courses such as world history and geography, and a decline in the social science electives.