PHILOSOPHY of SOCIAL STUDIES

Social Studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civil competence. Within the school program, the social studies provides coordinated, systematic study drawing upon such disciplines as history, government, geography, economics, law, psychology, and sociology. The primary purpose of the social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.

We recognize the importance of educating students who are able to use knowledge about their community, nation, and world, along with skills of data collection and analysis, collaboration, decision-making, and problem-solving. Students who have the commitment, the knowledge, and the skills will be the most capable of shaping our future, sustaining and improving our democracy, and assuming “the office of citizen”, as Thomas Jefferson called it.

The goals for social studies education are to:

Prepare students to make decisions based on democratic principles.
Build an understanding of human history.
Lead students to identify, understand, and work to solve the problems facing our diverse nation in an increasingly interdependent world.
Foster individual and cultural identity along with understanding of the forces that hold society together or pull it apart.
Address critical issues and the world as it is.
Develop an understanding of a citizen’s role.
Promote civic competence and citizen participation in public affairs.