WHAT IS SOCIAL STUDIES? STUDENT TEACHER PERSPECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the way students ' beliefs and actions toward social studies interacted and the impact of this interaction upon their social studies, student teaching in elementary and middle schools. Two separate and distinctive samples were used Sample A consisted of 12 randomly chosen students from the.teacher education program at a large southeastern state university. Sample B were four students selected on the basis of specific criteria from the teacher education program at a large midwestern state university. The two main methods of data collection were observations and interviews. Six major perspectives were expressed through the students ' beliefs and actions. These were: social studies as a nonsubject; as a means of teaching human relations or citizenship; as "school knowledge; as the "great connection, " or core of the curriculum; and as a stimulus to social action. These findings showed that the official conceptions of social studies have little to do with students ' beliefs and actions in the classroom. While it is important to have clear conceptions of and goals for social studies education, it is also necessary to focus on how these goals and ideals can be manifested. (RM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document