The Decline on Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Schools

 Grace Lefkowitz, Verrazzano Class of 2021, completed major in SLS (1-6)

While working on my capstone and gathering research/data from schools nationwide, I learned a great deal about our education system in the United States. Over the years, standardized testing in Mathematics and English have become a priority to the elementary school curriculum, and the teaching of Social Studies has been on a decline.

It is unfortunate that Social Studies is being neglected in elementary schools. Throughout my research and evidence, it is clear that teachers acknowledge the importance of this topic, and I wonder if teachers try to integrate this subject area within other disciplines when they teach.

In my master’s program, I hope to further study the role of Social Studies in the school system and how or if teachers address the NYS Social Studies standards.

After completing my capstone, I feel that the elementary school curriculum needs to improve for the sake of our future generations. Social Studies needs to be taught equally to that of Mathematics and English.