LICSS News & Workshops

LICSS Position Statement

The demands placed on schools to teach English/Language Arts and mathematics due to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 have created a scheduling problem and has eroded instructional time dedicated to the social studies at the elementary level in many school districts. The long-term consequence is that the infrastructure of content, knowledge and skill development in the social studies is being undercut by the lack of proper foundational development at the elementary and intermediate levels.

Reading in the content areas of History, Geography, Economics and Civics has a potential for enhancing English/Language Arts instruction. However, the current national assessment climate undermines social studies as a core subject. The social studies in New York State are a separate and distinct area of the curriculum and should not be a subset of another core. We acknowledge the Board of Regents support of social studies education by administering assessments at the elementary, intermediate and commencement levels. The Board of Regents needs to issue a statement to elementary, middle and high school administrators that affirm social studies as a core subject, with separate content and skills.

The Board of Regents has indicated that learning standards should exceed global standards so that all students are prepared to enter the workforce and become lifelong learners. The social studies are uniquely able to prepare students to live in a global society. History reinforces national identity while providing a framework for understanding multiple perspectives and cultures. Geography helps students to understand the why of where. Economics prepares students in making informed decisions in a globally interdependent world. Civics provides students with the necessary skills to function and serve in a democratic society. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Board and Commissioner Steiner, as they develop their vision for the New York State schools in the 21st century, to assure that the social studies (history, geography, economics and civics) is a vital core subject that needs to be independently taught at the elementary, intermediate and commencement levels. The LICSS is willing to work as partners, as we have done in the past in formulating and implementing the new vision.