While all curriculum areas share some of the same issues and
concerns, individual curriculum areas seem to also have concerns
specific to them and their courses. This list looks at the top
ten concerns for social studies teachers. 1. Breadth vs. Depth
Social studies standards are often written so that it is
virtually impossible to cover all the required material in the
school year. For example, in World History , the National
Standards require such breadth of material that it is impossible
to do more than just touch on each topic. 2. Dealing with
Controversial Topics Many social studies courses deal with
sensitive and at times controversial issues. For example, in
World History teachers are required to teach about religion. In
American Government , topics like abortion and the death penalty
can sometimes lead to heated debates. In these instances, it is
important for the teacher to maintain control of the situation.
3. Making Connections to Students' Lives While some social
studies courses like Economics and