A Comparative Study on the Contents between Elementary Social Studies Textbooks in the United States

Author(s):  
Tae-Ho Jeong
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 630-640
Author(s):  
Tuğba Kafadar ◽  

The present study aimed to compare social studies or equivalent course textbooks in Turkey, the United States, and France (ethics-citizenship education) based on values education content. The study was designed with the holistic multi-case method, a qualitative research approach, and the study data were collected with document analysis. The study group was assigned with criterion sampling, a purposive sampling method. The study data were analyzed with the content analysis technique. The study findings were as follows: Value dimensions in the textbooks employed in the three countries were similar in the self-transcendence value dimension in Turkey and France, while self-enhancement value dimension was identified in the US (New York) textbooks. Analysis of the value types identified in the textbooks of the three countries demonstrated that the achievement category was prominent in Turkish and American (New York) textbooks, while universalism-concern value type was observed in France. Modesty value type was observed the least in the USA (New York) and France textbooks. However, the least frequent category was prestige in Turkish textbooks. The instruction approaches that were frequently observed in the textbook learning-instruction processes in the three countries were similar and the value explanation approach was adopted in Turkish and American (New York) social studies and French ethics-citizenship textbooks. The least frequent value instruction approaches in the textbooks were value instruction by observation in Turkish and French textbooks and moral reasoning method in the American (New York) social studies textbooks. Furthermore, American (New York) textbooks did not employ the value instruction by observation approach.


Daedalus ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Hall Jamieson

This essay explores the value and state of civics education in the United States and identifies five challenges facing those seeking to improve its quality and accessibility: 1) ensuring that the quality of civics education is high is not a state or federal priority; 2) social studies textbooks do not facilitate the development of needed civic skills; 3) upper-income students are better served by our schools than are lower-income individuals; 4) cutbacks in funds available to schools make implementing changes in civics education difficult; and 5) reform efforts are complicated by the fact that civics education has become a pawn in a polarized debate among partisans.


1996 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 330-334
Author(s):  
Sheryl A. Orman ◽  
Debra J. Schneider

Studying the United Slates is a traditional part of the upper-elementary social studies curriculum. A common approach is for students to acquire facts about regions, states, capitals, natural resources, industries, agriculture, and tourist attractions and to work individually or in pairs to study one state in depth and to prepare a written or oral report. Despite these efforts, we continually hear that the people of the United States have a weak understanding of geography as well as of their responsibilities as citizens. A more effective approach to studying various aspects of the United States is needed.


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