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DON'T
CUT EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL STUDIES
“Dow Sinks 387 On
Renewed Credit Concerns.” “Shiites Assemble in Mass Pilgrimage.”
“Violent Clashes Erupt in Indian
Kashmir
.” “Government to Set Up Immigration Enforcement.” As one reads the
pages of this paper, the reader is confronted with issues of civics,
economics, geography, and history: the disciplines that comprise the field
of social studies. They help us to make sense of what is happening in our
world.
On May 18, 2007, Dr, Jim
Rex, SC State Superintendent of Education (in order to answer a public
call to reduce testing), proposed eliminating social studies testing in
grades 3-8 from SC state assessment (PACT). If
approved, this will have a direct impact on teachers and students in
South Carolina
. As has happened on the national level as a result of No Child Left
Behind, the curriculum has been narrowed resulting in decreased
instructional time in civics, economics, geography, and history in favor
of more time for English language arts and math. If social studies is not
assessed, there is added danger that generations of South Carolina
children will not understand how past events relate to current events nor
will they understand the value of democracy. In
this current climate of assessment and accountability, “what is tested
is valued.”
According to the 11th
annual Quality Counts report published by Education Week (January 2007), the system of education
standards, assessment and accountability in
South Carolina
was rated number one in the nation. Although
South Carolina
has been praised for this, we would be taking a huge step backwards if
Supt. Rex ’s proposal becomes law. With
the new academic year just starting, some schools around the state have
already begun this narrowing by decreasing instructional time for social
studies.
The primary function of social studies education is to prepare our
students to be successful, productive, and effective citizens in our
democratic society and in a global economy. Skills learned in civics,
economics, geography, and history classes are just as vital as numeracy
and literacy skills. Not everyone will become a mathematician or a
scientist, but all of our children will become citizens. If we do not
teach the value of democracy, we may lose our democracy.
I would like to encourage you to speak out against Dr. Rex’s
proposal to eliminate social studies from state accountability (PACT).
Social Studies should be assessed in the same way as English
language arts and mathematics. Contact your legislators to let them know
how important social studies instruction is to every child’s education. While
eliminating testing in social studies might please the public in the short
term, denying a generation of students instruction in civics, economics,
geography, and history is irresponsible and will negatively impact this
state for decades to come.
Social Studies: Every Student, Every Day!
Charles Vaughan
is a National Board certified teacher at Richland Northeast High School in
Clumbiam SC and president of the SC Council for the Social Studies.
Published on 2007-08-29, Page A11, State, The (Columbia, SC) |
