Abstract
The Journal of Social Studies Research extends to Ben A. Smith a heartfelt “thank you” for his dedication to social studies research during the years he served this journal as editor. He set a standard of excellence that must not be compromised. Continuing the standards of excellence that he maintained will be a challenge. The Journal wishes him well as he pursues other endeavors.
Recently there has been a trend in some states to dilute the presence of social studies education by state legislatures and others involved in educational policy. Some of those concerns were expressed in this journal in an article by Haas and Laughlin which appeared in volume twenty-two number two. This is a valid concern.
In the state of Iowa the Area Education Agencies (AEA) provide support to the public school districts and are accredited by the state. Recently legislation was enacted that does not require an AEA to provide support for social studies education in order to maintain their accreditation. They are allowed to provide that support if requested but it is not necessary for the accreditation of the AEA. This puts social studies education in the State of Iowa at risk. The article by Haas and Laughlin mentions earlier research in Delaware where social studies ranked lowest among academic subjects in importance and only more important than the supplementary school subjects such as art, music, physical education, and foreign languages, a similar situation to that in Iowa.
As social studies researchers, it is our responsibility to support and encourage organizations such as the National Council for the Social Studies, and their state organizations, in their efforts to maintain social studies as a significant component of the curriculum. For example, research can focus on reasons legislatures, school personnel, and teachers consider other disciplines to be more important than social studies.
There is no discipline more vital to democracy than social studies. If social studies ceases to be an integral part of the curriculum students will not be prepared as educated citizens. Citizenship has always been a cornerstone of the social studies. It would seem to me that we as researchers must continue to provide evidence of the importance of the social studies curriculum and provide support to teachers at all levels through workshops at our universities and attendance at social studies conferences both regionally and nationally.