The Maryland Social Studies Task Force released a report this month about the status of social studies instruction in Maryland and across the nation. The report concludes that social studies has been marginalized in our schools as a consequence of the NCLB Act. The Task Force strongly emphasized the need to improve social studies instruction and included the following quote, which we thought was well worth mentioning, in its introduction.

“A primary object … should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing … than … communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country.” —George Washington

We reached out to educator Patricia Worthy, who has 20 years of experience in the classroom, to get her scoop on the situation.

TCE: Do you agree that social studies in not on an equal footing with math and reading in grades K-12?

PW: Sometimes social studies gets brushed aside in favor of math and reading, which are used as a measuring stick for achievement. I am one of the teachers who is proactive about the importance of teaching social studies.

TCE: Why do you feel so strongly that more emphasis should be placed on social studies?

PW: Social studies breaks down into so many things, such as economics and geography, which students need to know. They need to learn history because if we don’t know our past, we tend to repeat it.

TCE: How do students benefit from learning about other cultures?

PW: It gives them an understanding and tolerance that will help them become productive citizens when they reach adulthood.

If we want to eliminate ignorance, we will get better results when students learn about other cultures. I have a multicultural classroom. It’s great to see when the lightbulb goes on — when my students make that connection between themselves and the world around them.  Learning about other cultures helps my students. When they debate, they say, “I understand your point of view.”

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