During its annual convention on November 22, the National Council for the Social Studies made a historic decision by agreeing on a definition for "social studies" for the first time in its 71-year history. The new definition describes social studies as the "integrated study of the social sciences and the humanities to promote civic competence." It also identifies specific disciplines that contribute to social studies.
The rationale behind this decision was explained by Patricia Nickell, an instructional-support-services director from Lexington, Ky., who highlighted the need for greater unity and consensus within the organization. She expressed that the broad nature of the field has made it difficult to assert a clear agenda in the past.
The term "social studies" was first coined around the turn of the century. However, educators have struggled to define the field ever since. C. Frederick Risinger, a former president of the N.C.S.S., recalled past debates on the singular or plural nature of the term. Additionally, members of the organization have grappled with determining the importance of different disciplines within social studies and which disciplines should be included.
The adoption of this definition aligns with the N.C.S.S.’s effort to establish national standards for social studies. These standards aim to provide coherence and visibility to the field at a time when separate projects are being developed for history, civics, geography, and economics. This standards initiative was a key topic of discussion at the convention.
The new definition recognizes that social studies draws upon numerous subjects, including anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law-related education, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, sociology, and there is room for appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and science. However, its primary goal in schools is to develop young people’s abilities to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens in a culturally diverse, democratic society within an interdependent world.
While the definition was overwhelmingly adopted by the council’s delegates, there were some detractors. Concerns were raised regarding how colleges of education will train teachers to master the diverse field of study. Some jokingly suggested that individuals from social studies would need an 8-by-10 index card to explain their identity. Nonetheless, other delegates argued that the integrative nature of the field is necessary to prepare students for the diverse and interconnected world they live in.
Patricia E. Baker, a college social-studies teacher from Brockport, N.Y., acknowledged that the newly established definition is not perfect but highlighted its long-overdue attempt to create a definition acceptable to all.
In other matters, the delegates voted to cancel plans for the council’s 1994 annual conference in Denver as a protest against a Colorado ballot measure that prohibited the enactment of civil-rights protections specifically for homosexuals. The resolution also stated that the organization would not hold conferences in states that are deemed to discriminate based on sexual orientation. Similar resolutions have been approved by the National Council of Teachers of English at their recent meeting in Louisville, Ky.
