From the McGuffey Reader to Social Studies

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Tuesday, December 11. 2012

From the McGuffey Reader to Social Studies

A deep, rich, and thorough discussion of the fads and trends in 20th C American education (not at all just about Social Studies): Abolish Social Studies - Born a century ago, the pseudo-discipline has outlived its uselessness. A quote:

Rugg proposed “new materials of instruction” that “shall illustrate fearlessly and dramatically the inevitable consequence of the lack of planning and of central control over the production and distribution of physical things. . . . We shall disseminate a new conception of government—one that will embrace all of the collective activities of men; one that will postulate the need for scientific control and operation of economic activities in the interest of all people; and one that will successfully adjust the psychological problems among men.”

Posted by Bird Dog in Education, Our Essays at 19:30 | Comments (9) | Trackbacks (0)

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My kids are in middle school. I never understood why there is no history class, but they do have a social studies class. And in social studies they seem to spend a lot of time coloring maps...which is really geography. Which I am cool with. I think everyone needs a good foundation in basic geography!

Beyond that, I am not sure what the point of social studies is...it sounds like a mishmash of history of non-European groups. They learn a heck of a lot about Africa, it seems.

I had my 7th grader complain last year that he knew nothing about World War II and wished he did. Shouldn't 12-year-olds have a basic historical knowledge? One would think.

#1 KJB on 2012-12-11 19:55 (Reply)

He should just read a book. No reason in the world to wait for the school to do something.

#1.1 Bird Dog on 2012-12-11 20:39 (Reply)

LOL. Because that is exactly what he got for Christmas last year...a book on WWII!

#1.1.1 KJB on 2012-12-12 13:52 (Reply)

I think the usefulness of Social Studies is defined by ones agenda. If creating socialized serfs is your agenda, I'm not sure it's outlived its usefulness.

As homeschoolers we are woefully negligent on social studies, although we do spend a lot of time on history.

(In fact, if Maggies Farm ever wants to do a free ad for us, we have an educational board game about medieval history.)

#2 DrTorch on 2012-12-12 07:01 (Reply)

Homeschoolers here, too. I am certainly interested in your board game, Dr. Torch.

We actually have the McGuffy readers. They are delightful. Starting down the classical education path has opened my eyes. So glad we are on this road.

#3 Beth on 2012-12-12 07:52 (Reply)

Thanks Beth.

I don't want to upset the management (It's a shame the way she makes one scrub the floor.)

Anyway, please feel free to visit jettedgames (dotcom).

Cheers

#3.1 DrTorch on 2012-12-12 14:27 (Reply)

Thanks! I'll check it out.
Merry Christmas.

#3.1.1 Beth on 2012-12-12 14:41 (Reply)

As I read BD's outtake above, I sensed the stench of the 1930s and 1940s. Sure enough, it's tired old socialist theory from those days. Egad! The stench!

TC

#4 Leatherneck on 2012-12-12 09:26 (Reply)

I was in elementary school with the Dick and Jane books. I desperately wanted to learn to read, but Dick and Jane just didn't do it. During the summer between first and second grade, my mother pulled out her old McGuffey Readers and began to teach me.

Within a month, I was on to the Second and Third Readers and never looked back. Because of the McGuffey Readers, all throughout elementary school, I always read 3-4 levels above my age.

I'm convinced that the Readers (plus growing up hearing the Book of Common Prayer every Sunday) are what made studying English literature in high school and college such a pleasure.

#5 eb on 2012-12-12 10:39 (Reply)

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Tuesday, December 11. 2012

From the McGuffey Reader to Social Studies