Economic Education for Citizenship.

Economics is an important part of the U.S. social studies core curriculum, and this book considers the role of economics education in the development of citizenship skills. Chapter 1 describes: (1) citizenship and economic literacy; (2) the amount of economics education to offer; (3) economics in relation to economic education; and (4) decision-making in terms of economics and values. Chapter 2 considers the status of economics education in schools and argues for a combination of economics education infusion into existing grades K-12 courses, along with a required high school course. Chapter 3 discusses economics instruction in terms of a model that centers on economic reasoning for effective citizenship and suggests teaching economics based on learning theory research and on established teaching practices. Chapter 4 examines: (1) evaluative materials selection techniques for teachers; (2) the economics content of social studies textbooks; (3) reviews of economics textbooks; and (4) other classroom materials, such as videocassettes and teacher's guides. Figures are included, and a bibliography of teaching materials and Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) resources contains 288 references. (JHP)