Publication Date

1964

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Ogilvie, W. K.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Art

LCSH

Communism--Study and teaching

Abstract

Problem The purpose of this study was to probe the adequacy of social studies textbooks for the teaching about communism in the public secondary schools and to determine the extent to which a selected group of secondary schools included courses or units about communism in their present and proposed curricula. Procedure A review of pertinent professional literature published since 1950 was examined to determine current opinion about the advisability, methods, and goals of teaching about communism in public secondary schools. Sixty secondary social studies textbooks published since 1950 and selected at random were analyzed to determine what coverage they offered in regard to communism. A questionnaire designed to determine the extent and nature of current and prospective course or unit offerings about communism was sent to sixty Illinois secondary schools selected at random. A return of sixty-two percent or thirty-seven questionnaires was realized. The findings were analyzed and presented in tabular form. Findings and Conclusions 1. There is increasing interest and controversy among educators and the public over the advisability, methods, and goals of teaching about communism in the secondary schools. 2. Most junior and senior high school general social studies textbooks devoted little or no coverage to communism. 3. Generally, only economics textbooks discussed in any depth the theoretical political and economic bases of communism. 4. Seventy-eight percent of the schools polled now offer a course or unit about communism. 5. Such units are generally two to four weeks in length and are normally offered in the senior year of high school. 6. The larger high schools are more apt to require a unit about communism for graduation. 7. Larger high schools tend to offer longer units about communism. 8. Incidental teaching about communism occurs in many courses at various grade levels. 9. Almost all schools present the theoretical bases of communism as part of such a unit. 10. There was little community pressure indicated in regard to the inclusion, exclusion, or modification of units or courses about communism. 11. Most of the schools not presently offering units about communism anticipate introducing them in the future.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [51]-53)

Extent

vii, 65 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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