Teaching About the 2018 U.S. Midterm Elections: A National Survey of Social Studies Teachers

• In Event: Politics and/of Participation in Social Studies Education

Abstract

For this paper we present results from a national survey of secondary social studies teachers to identify teacher-reported practices related to teaching the 2018 US mid-term elections and other contemporary issues. We were particularly interested in factors that helped to explain why teachers were or were not engaging students in the mid-terms and what contextual factors may impact their teaching of these contemporary events. In particular, we found the relationship between the teachers’ political views and those of the school community, teacher political engagement and engagement with current events to be key factors. These findings are important given rise in partisanship and social stratification in the US, as well as the high percentage of turnover in the US teaching profession.

Authors

• Jeremy D. Stoddard, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Paul G. Fitchett, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Diana E. Hess, University of Wisconsin - Madison