Are schools
required to teach African-American History?
Yes, the state
law which specifies two years of US history (NJSA 18A:35-1,2)
in the high schools also includes the teaching of African American
History.
Has the
state provided guidance to schools for the teaching of African-American
history?
Yes, there
is a state curriculum guide as follows
Gunther, L.
and Larry Greene. 1997. The New Jersy African American History
Curriculum
Guide,
Grades 9 to 12. New Jersey Historical Commission, Department
of State.
(available
from the Commission for $20.)
Are schools
required to teach state history?
Yes, the same
state law which requires two years of instruction in
US history also includes New jersey history.
Are schools
required to teach civics?
There is a
legal requirement to provide a course of study in the United States
Constitution.
There are
also Core Curriculum Standards in Civics which by law must be
implemented.
Are schools
required by law to teach economics?
There is a
Core Curriculum Standard for Economics which must by law be implemented
Does the
above mean that there must be a separate course for civics or
economics?
No, the content
may be taught either in a separate course or it can infused into
other courses of study such as history or government.
Is there
one best way to teach social studies?
No, the local
district must decide how it will teach to the Core Curriculum
Content Standards for Social Studies. There are two broad approaches
as follows; 1) disciplinary which means that history, geography,
civics, and economics are taught as individual courses; or, 2)
interdisciplinary, which means that units of study may
include broad topics which take in two or more of the above disciplines.
These approaches can be used interchangeably as the district,
school, or teacher plans and implements his/her program. The national
standards in history, civics, geography, social studies and economics
provide guidance for either approach.
