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War's Impact on Social Studies Education

This document discusses how social studies education in the US changed in response to World War II and the Cold War. It describes controversies over textbooks in the 1930s and 1940s, efforts to prepare defense workers and increase vocational training during WWII, and debates over whether American history was being adequately taught in schools. Critics argued social studies undermined patriotism while defenders said the curriculum sufficiently covered American history and developed students' understanding. After the war, social studies focused more on separate disciplines and avoided controversial topics amid social conformity during the postwar period.

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Yannel Villaber
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163 views2 pages

War's Impact on Social Studies Education

This document discusses how social studies education in the US changed in response to World War II and the Cold War. It describes controversies over textbooks in the 1930s and 1940s, efforts to prepare defense workers and increase vocational training during WWII, and debates over whether American history was being adequately taught in schools. Critics argued social studies undermined patriotism while defenders said the curriculum sufficiently covered American history and developed students' understanding. After the war, social studies focused more on separate disciplines and avoided controversial topics amid social conformity during the postwar period.

Uploaded by

Yannel Villaber
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Yannel M.

Villaber
2004-78382
MAEd Social Studies

Chapter Four
War and the War on Social Studies

Preparing students to give lives for democracy became a very real purpose for many
educators(p.70)

1939
Rugg Controversy

Textbooks Critics
 1930’s sales  Communist propaganda
 20,000 per year  Sense of large outcry
 Created unified Social Studies  Reality 8 states were critical led by NY
program and NJ
 Problem-centered instruction  Few countries removed books
 Leading Social Studies educator  Unsuccessful in removal of texts

1940
National Defense Advisory Commission
 Educators prepared defense workers
 10 week courses to 150,000

National Coordinating Commission on Education


 Consisted of 55 Educational Organizations
 By November, 1940 one million defense workers
 Vocational Training increased to unprecented levels

1942-1943

1944
Wesley Committee
Response to Alan Nevines attack on Social Studies
Nevines Edgar B. Wesley
 American History not being taught  American History was included in
well Social Studies
 Undermined Patriotism & unity of  Blamed historians for not being active
country  Enrolment in Elementary/ Junior near
 26 states had legal requirements 100%
 Lack of American History in Higher  Nearly all HS students study American
Education History
 Knowing History? facts, dates, names,
NYT Survey events, then yes Americans lack
 7000 College Freshman knowledge
 Ignorant of key facts, phases  Understanding/Appreciation?
Americans do know a “reasonable”
amount

1945
Post War Era
 Time of conformity
 Economic prosperity & expansion
 Ideological struggle capitalism & communism
 Non-discussion of controversial issues
 Study of Social Sciences to disciplines
 Advantage historians & social scientists

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