The course of study on social studies in 1998 put emphasis on the methodology of study and basic & fundamental principles of social sciences. But only the methodology have the attention of everyone. We should put more emphasis on the basic and fundamental principles now. Because the basic and fundamental principles of sciences are the core of education. So we analyze the basic and fundamental principles of social sciences and geography.
1. The Basic and Fundamental Principles of Social Sciences and Geography
It is necessary for the basic and fundamental principles of social sciences and geography to have following structure.
‹the structure of social studies for school subjects›
contents of subject
generalizations and concepts for sosial phenomena (A) skills of social sciences (B)
‹the structure of geography for school subjects›
contents of subject generalizations and concepts for regional phenomena (X) necessary geographical phenomena for having images of our world (Y) skills of geography (Z)
In constructing the curriculum of social studies, we should apportion time of 80 per cent to (A) and 20 per cent to (B). In case of the geography, we should apportion time of 40 per cent to (X), 40 per cent to (Y) and 20 per cent to (Z). It is quite wrong to apportion time of over 20 per cent to (B) or (Z). (A) is the core of social studies. (X) and (Y) are the core of geography for school subject.
2 comparison our course of study on geography in 1998 with national curriculum geography in England in 1990
Students in Japan are asked for to study following contents of world geography in elementary and secondary school by the course of study on geography in 1998.
‹the content of world geography for a school subject in Japan›
substance
understanding of a selected country and its community (elementary school)
understanding of the geography of the 2 or 3 selected countries (secondary school)
skill
the skills of inquiring about a selected country (elementary school) the skill of inquiring of the regional character about 2 or 3 countries
Students in England are asked for to study following contents of world geography in elementary and secondary school by the national curriculum geography in England in 1990.
‹the content of world geography for a school subject in England›
substance
understanding of the world as a whole
understanding of selected places and different types of countries within the programs of study
major concept: population, settlement, communications and movement, economic activities, weather and climate, landform, resources, etc.
skill
comparison, interpreting geographical patterns, analyzing and interpreting geographical data, history and future
In view of the result of analyzing, our course of study on geography is insufficient to make our students study the basic and fundamental principles of geography and images of our world.
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