Teaching About Religion: Religion in the Social Studies Curriculum

Religion in the Social Studies Curriculum

By C. Frederick Risinger

Source: Risinger, C. F. (1993). Religion in the social studies curriculum.
Bloomington, Indiana: ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social
Science Education. [ED363553]

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In the past decade, educators and policymakers have agreed that public
schools should strengthen and improve teaching about religion and its
function in human affairs. While religion is an important element in many
areas of literature, art, and music, the social studies--especially history and
civics--provide the best opportunity for including religion in the curriculum.
Several state education departments and local school districts have issued
new mandates and guidelines for including religion in the curriculum.
Textbook publishers have expanded and improved their coverage of
religion, and many supplementary materials are available at both the
elementary and secondary levels. For most school systems, the question
has changed from "Should we teach about religion?" to "How should we
include the study of religion in the curriculum?" Several local, state, and
national programs have been established to help teachers and
administrators answer this question.

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