"A Deterrent to the Religious Beliefs of Many of Our Families": Religious Resistance to a Social Studies Curriculum

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Seven
  In Roundtable Session: Parental Influences and Perspectives on Religion and Schooling (Table 14)

Abstract

To improve students’ sense of shared humanity across cultures and world views, researchers in the 1960’s used federal funding to create an elementary social studies curriculum. Despite widespread support from educators, the Man: A Course of Study (MACOS) curriculum drew fire from parents and legislators who claimed that the lessons in the curriculum undermined their Christian beliefs. This paper utilizes historical research methods to explore parents’ religious opposition to a curriculum that was intended to improve religious cooperation. Debates about the role of parents in deciding what students should learn are part of broader, cyclical culture wars; this paper provides insight on ways religion contributes to debates of what should be taught in schools and implications for educators.

Authors

• Anna Yonas, University of Virginia
  Presenting Author

• Stephanie van Hover, University of Virginia
  Non-Presenting Author