Candidates will research and critically reflect on what is happening across the country in relation to the social studies curriculum and how and where it intersects with the teaching of “divisive” concepts.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Critical race theory
- Book banning
- Issues around personal values, race, ethics, and stereotypes
- Family structures (interracial marriage, two moms/two dads, single-parent families, foster families, adoption, etc.)
- LGBTQIA+ books in the classroom (gender identity and expression can be included here)
- Teaching about slavery to young children (myth of the happy slave)
- The truth about our founding fathers (slave holders)
- Thanksgiving celebrations (Pilgrims and Indians approach)
- Celebrating Columbus Day (or should it be Indigenous People’s Day?)
- How we teach about Indigenous People
- Pledge of Allegiance (its meaning and use) and patriotism
These topics are the tip of the iceberg. The list is just meant to give you some ideas about the direction you might like your paper to take.
Your paper should have a minimum of 4 sources. This is not a traditional research paper, so your sources can be newspaper articles, blog posts, radio broadcasts (think NPR stories), news videos, pedagogical articles, etc.
Your goal is to present an issue that challenges teachers and students in the classroom. Share your thoughts and feelings honestly as you weigh the issues and grapple with how you hope to teach social studies.