It seems like Social Studies is becoming less important in schools and to students. This started in the mid-1960s when schools in the U.S. became more integrated. Instead of encouraging more discussions about history, culture, and society, the reality is more complicated.

When Did We Start Talking Less About Social Studies

In the late 1970s, Social Studies education started to include important topics like law, justice, racial and ethnic studies, and environmental awareness. But many teachers resisted this change. This resistance makes more sense when you consider who is teaching Social Studies.

The Main Face of Social Studies

The teachers in the U.S. are not as diverse as the students. Fewer than 10% of all U.S. teachers identify as Black, Hispanic, or Asian, and less than 2% identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, or two or more races.

This lack of diversity makes it hard for students to see themselves in their lessons. Combined with an education system heavily focused on standardized test preparation, Social Studies has become less important.

Why We Stopped Learning

In the early 2000s, two significant events made the decline of Social Studies worse. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2002 expanded the government’s role in education and focused on standardized testing in math and reading. This pushed Social Studies to the side.

The law also required states to focus on improving the performance of specific subgroups of students, which made it harder to focus on broader learning goals, including Social Studies.

By 2010, many schools had switched to the Common Core standards, which made it even harder to prioritize Social Studies. With such a heavy focus on math and ELA, schools had little room to prioritize Social Studies.

My Experience

As a Social Studies teacher, I saw how the lack of emphasis on Social Studies was harming students. My students were naturally curious, but the limits imposed by Common Core standards and increasing laws restricting certain subjects in the classroom made it difficult to foster that curiosity.

In my second year, I taught fifth graders in a self-contained classroom, which meant I taught every subject. This experience taught me the importance of connecting Social Studies topics to core subjects like math, ELA, and science. These connections deepened students’ understanding and made learning more engaging.

How Study Root Embraces

The traditional school system’s limitations motivated me to create Study Root Learning. At Study Root Learning, we’re dedicated to keeping Social Studies at the heart of education. We believe that who teaches you is just as important as what they teach. That’s why we advocate for creating classrooms that reflect the diversity of our students and for teaching lessons that resonate with their lived experiences.

Our curriculum is built on the idea that Social Studies is more than just memorizing dates and facts—it’s about understanding the world, the people in it, and how we all contribute to society. At Study Root, we encourage learners to explore diverse topics, ask tough questions, and see Social Studies as a way to grow into informed, engaged citizens.