Two-Column Notes

Date:
8/31

Name: Kristen Tabesh

Class/Subject: EDTL 2760

Title: Why Kids Dont Like Social Studies

Source: Schug, M., Todd, R., & Beery. R. (1984). Why kids don't like social studies. Social Education, 48(5),
382-387.
Page #
Page
#47

Page
#47

Page
#50

The Text Says

Notes (key concepts, direct quotes, etc.)
It is increasingly urgent that social studies
educators pay attention to what young
people, as well as others, much be able to
tell us about ways to improve the social
studies program

I Say
My notes, commentary

I think this statement can go both ways.

Sometimes I feel that it is the adultsmostly
other educators and scholarsthat are telling
us how to improve the social studies programs.
If teachers are getting feedback on ways to
improve classes from students through
Student/Teacher Evaluations, how much of this
do teachers really take to heart? I must say I
am skeptical.
The Science Education Databook (1980)
I found this statement very shocking. I think
reported that three percent of nine-year-old that if this data were collected a little more
students named social studies as their
recently, there would be a significant
favorite subject compared to 48 percent for difference. The way lessons are being executed
mathematics and 24 percent for language
in social studies has advanced severely. With
arts
computers alone, you can virtually tour almost
any historical landmark in the world.
A typical elementary student response
The fact that a subject is important because
was that reading was important because
you use it all through your life is something
you use it all through your life and you can that can be said of every subject in one form or
learn a lot from that. Similarly, a
anotherespecially social studies. The material
secondary student commented that English that is taught in the primary grades of social
was important because it deals with
studies has a lot to do with navigation and

communication and prepares you for life

Page
#51

Page
#53

The comments of some seniors indicated

that they had taken courses in
anthropology, sociology, or psychology and
apparently found these courses to be quite
interesting

geography, which is something that you build

upon for the rest of your life. It is the foundation
of directing yourself from one place to another.
I am not surprised by this finding. When people
think social studies they dont always picture
the humanistic side of it. Psychology was one of
my favorite classes in high school, and I think a
lot of students find that aspect of the
curriculum to be challenging, but in a good way.
I may be biased, but I think this is another flaw
in the study. This study was done over twenty
years ago, and I strongly feel that instruction in
the social studies classroom has changed
drastically. It is more interactive, more
advanced, and gives more room for students to
feel that they are succeeding.

The dominant reasons students preferred

their favorite courses to social studies were
that they provided more variety in
instruction and more opportunities for
being successful. While not surprising,
these reasons do suggest that we need to
strive for greater variety in instruction and
for providing more opportunities for
success if student attitudes toward social
studies are to change
Did you have good social studies teachers? Do you believe the authors' findings? Why or why not?
I think that I was very blessed with the social studies teachers that I had in school. In elementary
school, I had a history teacher that incorporated a lot of fun and relatable activities after we finished a
unit. In middle school, I had a World History teacher that had as keep an active journal all throughout
the year that held our class notes, as well as creative pages to show reflections. And in high school, I
had a Government teacher that made a great impact on me, as well as an incredible Psychology
teacher.
I dont agree with this authors finding for one reason: I think this research is narrow, and out of date. I
think that if similar studies were done in more demographics and more recently, the data would come
out differently.