Mark Pearcy

Teaching History: Strategies for Dealing with Breadth and Depth in the Standards and Accountability Age

In the age of accountability, there is increased pressure to deliver high-quality education in a limited time period is greater than ever before. Teachers are often left to struggle with issue of determining what knowledge is necessary, and to what depth it may be explored in the classroom. There is a need for strategies to both incorporate the best forms of historical knowledge and to cope with the increased demands on our teachers. The purpose of this article is to examine the idea of what constitutes “historical knowledge,” the issues of breadth and depth, and to suggest strategies for history teachers on how to deal with the challenge of finding the “right” balance between breadth and depth in their history courses.

They're Always over Us--Teaching about Drones.

Social studies teachers have an obligation to help students grapple with and thoughtfully examine controversial issues, often in a contemporary context. One such issue is the U.S. use of unmanned aerial vehicles, generally known as drones. Whether for surveillance purposes or military missions, the use of drones by the U.S. government has preceded the development of clearly articulated policy guidelines. This article examines the use of drones in U.S. policy, the argument for and against their deployment, and the manner in which social studies educators may effectively teach their students about such a complex, challenging topic. Toward that end, the article also advocates for the use of an ethical and analytical framework, the “just war” doctrine, which can assist students in critiquing how drones are used, under what conditions, and the social impact that may entail.