Two-Column Notes

Date:

Name: Tanner McKinney

Class/Subject: EDTL 2760 1001

MR Title(s): Why Kids Dont Like Social Studies

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

50

52

The Text Says

Notes (key concepts, direct quotes, etc.)

I Say
My notes, commentary

Science Education Databook (1980)

reported that three percent of nine-year-old
students named social studies as their
favorite subject compared to 48 percent for
mathematics and 24 percent for language
arts.
Table 3 shows a percentage breakdown on
which subjects were the childrens least
favorite. Math 33% English 24% Social
Studies 15% Science 15% music 7%
Other 3%. The chart also gave reasons and
percentages for why children picked their
least favorite subject.
Difficult subject 50% Dislike subject
matter 22% No purpose/Boring 20%
Disliked teaching methods 15 %
Table 5 Percentages of selected student
responses regarding what is uninteresting
about social studies. The top three answers
were; Boring 44% Redundant Subject
Matter 18% and Complex subject matter
16%

I was extremely surprised to see that so few

students listed social studies as their favorite
subject. I knew that social studies wasnt very
many peoples favorite, but I didnt realize that
it was being blown out of the water by
mathematics and language arts.
In many ways, I can see the correlation
between why students picked their least
favorite subjects. Back in my high school, many
students evaded many upper level math
classes because it is such a difficult subject. I
think one thing you could add to the category
of it being Too difficult could be Too lazy to
put in the work
It is astounding that 44% of students surveyed
stated that they disliked social studies because
it was boring. With how many different kinds of
social studies available, I find it hard to believe
that they couldnt find one thing that interested
them. Also, 18% of students said that it was
redundant. I can say for this as well that there

are so many different kinds of social studies, I

find it hard to get bored.

Connections to previous MR:

I had fantastic social studies teachers back in my high school. All of them were always very helpful and
knowledgeable with any questions my fellow students and I ever had. They are my main inspiration
when it comes to my career choice of me becoming a teacher. My teachers all had a love and passion
for what they were teaching, and they all instilled a fire and passion for all kinds of social studies; from
psychology to government. I want to be able to inspire tomorrows generation in the same way that they
have inspired me.
I believe in the authors findings in the article "Why don'y kids like social studies." Many of the points
made in the article I have experienced first hand. Back in my home town, not may people shared the
same love of social studies that I have. Many of my fellow students would say that it is boring, and that
it's neer interesting. With so many different kinds of social studies available, it's ridiculous that they
couldn't find at least one type they liked! I think many students didn't fully give social studies a full
chance, and would automatically dismiss it has "The most boring class." When I become a teacher, I
want to show my students the beauty behind all the different kinds of social studies, whether that be
history, psychology, government, economics, or sociology. I intend on instilling the same flame my
teachers gave me, no matter the subject.