| The purpose of this study was to ascertain the present status of social studies curriculum in the state of Missouri. To determine the current status of social studies curriculum in Missouri, a questionnaire was utilized. One-hundred and twenty randomly selected secondary schools were surveyed to obtain information concerning the social studies scope and sequence, required and elective courses, current graduation requirements, predominant instructional techniques, and stimuli for curriculum review or revision.;The techniques or strategies of lecture, individual seatwork, and classroom discussion, were reported most frequently as characterizing social studies instruction in Missouri. A majority of the Missouri secondary schools reported having a comprehensive review or revision of their curriculum within the last five years. The major stimuli to the review or revision was a combination of The Nation at Risk, Missouri's "Excellence in Education Act", and school board policy mandating periodic reviews.;The overall return from the selected secondary schools was 85.8 percent. The current social studies requirements for graduation showed an increase from ten years ago. Over 63 percent of the schools surveyed required 3 units of social studies for graduation. American history was the most commonly offered social studies course, and required by all Missouri secondary schools. The second most commonly offered social studies course and second most required course was world history. The third most commonly offered social studies course was psychology, followed by geography, sociology, contemporary issues, and "interdisciplinary social studies." The social studies sequence most frequently reported in Missouri secondary schools was an interdisciplinary course entitled "social studies" in grade seven, American history in grades eight and nine, world history in grade ten, American history in grade eleven, and electives in grade twelve. The courses registering the largest number of sections were the required courses. American history was the dominant course followed by world history and interdisciplinary "social studies." World history, geography, psychology, sociology, civics, and family relation courses were reported to be currently increasing in enrollment in Missouri secondary schools surveyed. The courses reporting a significant decline in current enrollment were "social studies", economics, contemporary issues, Missouri history, and American history. |
