FOUNDATION OF SOCIAL

STUDIES: AN
INTRODUCTION
RHYAN MIKE R. BACARO
Meaning of Social Studies
Frost and Rowland (1969) defined the subject as essentially studies of
human relationship, like human to human, human to institutions, human
to physical environment and human to value systems.

Quartey (1984) in his own definition of Social Studies describes the

subject as a “study that equips the youth with tools necessary in solving
personal and community related problems”.
Meaning of Social Studies
The National Council for Social Studies in the United States of America
has officially defined subject as:

An integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote

civic competence and help young people develop the ability to make
informed and reasoned decisions as citizens of culturally diverse,
democratic society in an inter dependent world. (NCSS 1992)
Meaning of Social Studies

This implies that the goal of Social Studies purely revolves around
citizenship education, education for cultural integration and sustainable
living.
Historical Background of Social
Studies
Development of Social Studies Thoughts in the United States

The United States of America appeared to be the “mother” country of Social Studies,
and no wonder Obebe (1990), commented that Social Studies first appeared as a
curriculum of the educational system of United States of America (USA) within the
first two decades of the 20th century.

Social Studies thought started developing in the United States of America in the early
1900 as a reaction to the tremendous numerous human problems prevailing at that
particular period. Some of these problems were basically social and political but purely
as a result of the civil wars which Americans went through and were just getting over.
Some of these problems were seen as cogs in the wheel of all efforts at ensuring the
evolution of a pluralistic and modernized democratic state.
Historical Background of Social
Studies
Development of Social Studies Thoughts in the United States

By 1921, a national association called National Council for Social

Studies (NCSS) whose membership is opened to person or institution
interested in Social Studies was formed. This Council charged itself and
its members with the responsibility of working towards a better
understanding of Social Studies and its importance in developing
responsible participation in social, political and economic lives.
Historical Background of Social
Studies
Development of Social Studies Thoughts in Britain

There is very little evidence of the existence of Social Studies before the 1930s in
Britain and other European countries. What could be regarded as the Social Studies
content at that time included materials from the Economics and Political Science, which
were then taught as Civics (Ogundare 2000).

This view is in line with what Lawton and Dufour (1914) as quoted by Obebe (1990)
observed through a remark that, There is little evidence of the existence Social Studies
in the curriculum at the beginning of twentieth century, although history and geography
(which were fairly established in the elementary and grammar school by the1920s)
would sometimes include materials generally referred to as “civics”.
Historical Background of Social
Studies
Development of Social Studies Thoughts in Britain

Between 1945 and the early 50s there was therefore a tremendous growth in the thought
of Social Studies and British Schemes were developed on integrated approach to the
subject. These growing thoughts were reflected in the series of teachers’ handbooks that
were produced in Social Studies. For instance, by 1945, the movement produced a
document in which Social Studies was going to be taught as a common core course for
the younger ones
WHY STUDIES THE SOCIAL
SCIENCE
 To understand people and societies
 To understand change and how the society we live in came to be
 To understand the importance of history in our own lives
 To understand how history contributes to more understanding
 To provide identity- cultural history that is assumed all already know.
 To become responsible citizens