Researching and Teaching Social Issues: The Personal Stories and Pedagogical Efforts of Professors of Education

In the United States, there is a long and rich tradition of professors of education addressing, in one way or another, the vital link between social issues and the educational process.Researching and Teaching Social Issues is comprised of original personal essays in which noted professors of education of the last half of the twentieth century delineate the genesis and evolution of their thought and work in the field of social issues and education. In relating their personal stories, the authors discuss, among other issues in their work, their perceptions of the field, their major contributions, their current endeavors, and the legacy they think they will possibly leave upon completion of their careers. The collective expertise is eclectic, including working on the development of theorectical issues; conducting research into whether and/or how social issues are taught at the K-12 level; developing and publishing curricula, essays, articles, and books germane to the teaching of social issues; the development and implementation of social issues projects in schools and the community; and the way in which some address the systemic issues of society that impinge upon the education and lives of students and teachers. Totten and Pedersen have assembled a strong collection that will be of great interest to teachers, teacher educators, and scholars of education.