The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) recently released the 2022 assessment results for Civics and U.S. History, and the figures are disheartening. Grade 8 proficiency was just 22% in Civics and 14% in U.S. History. These figures underscore a dangerous trend – a diminished emphasis on social studies in our schools.Our classrooms are meant to be laboratories for democracy, where our students are prepared to become responsible community members and engaged citizens. However, the data shows that we are failing in our duty to provide a comprehensive social studies education, especially to students from diverse and traditionally marginalized backgrounds. This is a threat to our future as a nation and to our role within the global community.The decline in social studies is not simply a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a persistent issue, reflecting lost instructional time, a lack of a solid foundation in social studies learning from early childhood, and a lack of investment in curriculum and teacher professional development. All these factors make a well-rounded education seem out of reach for many children.As Shannon M. Pugh, NCSS President, astutely observes, “Democracy is important. Our republic is important. Social studies education is important because it supports and protects our nation’s ideals and values.” This is a wake-up call to policy makers and educational leaders to halt the cycle of curricular neglect and invest in our students and teachers.So, let us rally to the call of the NCSS, to ensure that all students, irrespective of their background or school, have access to deep, rich content and powerful social studies instruction. Let’s restore social studies education in the daily school experience of every child. Our democracy, our republic, and our future depend on it.
