How the Spanish culture can contribute more significantly to the social studies program of California elementary schools

Author

Samuel Encínas Renteria, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

1954

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Education

Abstract

In the past, evidence indicates that the teaching of social studies in many places in California has been a perfunctory, superficial type of instruction, For example, early attempts to expose the child to the historical background of California were through a history or geography book. In most cases, the usual procedure was to tell the child to read so many pages and then answer the questions at the end of the chapter. The main objective was to cover the text by the end of the school term and pass an examination over facts with little or no concern for the changed behavior of children. Our recent world conflict has indicated that not enough persons were concerned with the heritage, culture, and human worth of all peoples, Unless we can help children at an early age to develop attitudes, appreciations, understandings, and a concern for their neighbors, it looks as if we shall always be engaged in some kind of human conflict.

In our own culture, the modern teacher is concerned with what happens to boys and girls and sees in each pupil a potential candidate for the development of a healthy personality. The bent possible avenue towards accomplishing this goal is through helping a child understand himself and those about him. Children of today cannot afford to go without the type of' instruction that inculcates in their minds the great network of interdependence which must bind the peoples of this modern world together if they are to survive.

It is the contention of this thesis that not enough is being done in the field of inter-group relations, especially for and about Spanish-speaking peoples in the California schools. This paper is an attempt to show that the study of the Spanish culture can contribute significantly to the development of better personalities in the classroom as well as build better citizens in a community.

Chapter I shows a survey of past teaching techniques based on documentary evidence. It serves to introduce the problem and show the importance of' the study. Chapter II tells what the modern social studies curriculum consists of in California in grades IV and VI. Chapter III gives evidence of the degree that the Spanish culture is being preserved through the current practices in the fourth grade social studies program in Modesto, California. Chapter IV shows how a typical social studies unit on South America was taught in the sixth grade in Modesto, California. Chapter V summarizes the study, draws conclusions, and makes recommendations for the educational program of boys and girls in order that they may grow up free from prejudices and with better human understandings and kinder attitudes towards the Spanish people.

Pages

64

Recommended Citation

Renteria, Samuel Encínas. (1954). How the Spanish culture can contribute more significantly to the social studies program of California elementary schools. University of the Pacific, Thesis. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/1240