Editor's Notebook

Simpson, Michael, Social Education

CAROLE L. HAHN RECENTLY reported in our pages on the results of an international study that compared the civic knowledge of young people in 28 countries. Almost 3,000 American ninth grade students participated in the survey. Although the study showed discrepancies in civic knowledge among Americans with different socioeconomic backgrounds, there was some good news: American students performed above the international average and "did exceptionally well on the items that measured such skills as the ability to comprehend political messages, interpret political cartoons, and distinguish fact from opinion." ([dagger])

It's always encouraging to hear news of a good performance. It's doubly so because the skills that the American students showed are among those that many American civic educators--including numerous contributors to this journal--judge important for the development of analytical competence and independent thinking among students. Good and …

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Publication information: Article title: Editor's Notebook. Contributors: Simpson, Michael - Author. Journal title: Social Education. Volume: 66. Issue: 3 Publication date: April 2002. Page number: 143. © 2008 National Council for the Social Studies. COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group.

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