That is, our work should illuminate the essential connection between social studies learning, democratic values, and positive citizenship. As a people, then, our first priority, is to ensure our survival as a free nation through the development of students who can assume the office of citizen. To achieve such a vision of social studies, we must insure that students become intimately acquainted with scholarship, partisanship, leadership, and citizenship. This standard implies the desire to connect knowledge, skills, and beliefs to life outside of the classroom utilizing as standards a greater depth in development of topics, and activities which personalize the meaning of content. This would be true for its treatment of topics, the use of instructional technology and the connections made across the curriculum.
Social studies teaching and learning is powerful when it is value-based.
It encourages the recognition of opposing points of view, respect for well-supported positions, sensitivity to cultural similarities and differences,and a commitment to social responsibility. Its tools include the teachingof critical thinking to make value-based decisions about related social issues. Teachers model seriousness of purpose and a thoughtful approach to inquiry and use instructional strategies designed to support and elicit similar qualities from the students. Additionally, teachers show interest in and respect for students' thinking, but demand well-reasoned arguments rather than opinions voiced without adequate thought or commitment. Social Studies teaching and learning is powerful when it is active.