Florida’s public schools have the responsibility for creating an informed and active citizenry. This goal requires our students receive a firm foundation in each of the four major areas represented in the Sunshine State Standards for social studies – history, government/civics, economics and geography. Sadly, it appears from several accounts that we may be failing to adequately prepare our students, thus ill-equipping our state and nation to meet this important goal.

As many recent surveys attest, we no longer can afford the luxury of assuming students are actually learning about the heritage of our nation or that they possess the essential economic, civic, geographic or historical competencies to equip them for their future responsibilities as citizens! Unfortunately for both our nation and state, we are totally ignorant of what knowledge, skills and civic dispositions our students actually do possess. This is a recipe for future disaster!

The Florida Council for the Social Studies (F.C.S.S.) is committed to restoring our curriculum area to its rightful place among the other core, basic subject areas. In this valiant struggle, we need the help of all social studies educators! Join the legislative oversight committee by contacting the current chairperson at advocacy@fcss.org. “Grassroots social studies advocates” are needed in every county to contact legislators, work with affiliated groups and to speak out on the vital need for a revitalized civic mission in the public schools. Read more...

Email us at: advocacy@fcss.org