ABSTRACT
Social studies as an integrated study was proposed by the 1916 National Education Association (NEA) Committee on Social Studies, a cross-section of scholars, high school teachers, district administrators, and federal education officials. It is important to recognize that governmental policymakers and social studies educators fall into at least two overlapping camps. Some policymakers and social studies educators have embraced the notion of social studies as an integrated field focused on community study. These progressive policymakers, who fill the ranks of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) supervisors and chief state social studies supervisor organizations, tend to be former social studies educators who have studied and applied the modern concept of social studies. The disparities between the general public, policymakers, and social studies educators can be reconciled if all parties can be convinced that the vision at the birth of social studies education can make our democratic system work better.
