The principal's role in the development and presentation of the elementary social studies curriculum

Includes bibliographical references.This thesis assumes two basic premises: (1) that the social studies program, in order to meet the demands of our dynamic society, must become the back-bone of the elementary school; and, (2) the principal is the key person in the development of a quality social studies program. Social studies was defined as those learning experiences drawn from all of the areas concerned with man and his interactions with his environment. From such a definition it is clear that every teacher in the elementary school is a teacher of the social studies and that every area of the curriculum is related to the social studies. It was the purpose of this study to coordinate the above premises into a frame-work that would represent the principal’s role in the development and presentation of the social studies program. A survey of the literature in the field of education was used to formulate and validate this piece of descriptive research. It was found that the frame-work of the principal’s role in this area could best be divided into the six following areas: (1) organizing and implementing a supervisory program; (2) modern trends in the elementary school social studies program; (3) objectives of a modern social studies program; (4) organizing effective social studies instruction; (5) the in-service training program; and, (6) evaluation of the social studies program.M.S. Ed. (Master of Education