Educational - Ozean Publications

European Journal of Educational Studies 2(2), 2010scale ranging from one (no barrier) to four (very high barrier). As illustrated in Table 3, the top threechallenges were reported in the lack of community involvement in determining social studies goals andcontent areas (M = 3.20), lack of teacher freedom over the curriculum (M = 3.05), and lack of students’involvement in determining social studies goals and content areas (M = 3.03). Clearly, these findings contrastsharply with educational trends that emphasize participation of community members, teachers, and students incurriculum planning and development.Table 3 Perceptions of Social Studies Teachers about Challenges Facing the Implementation of SocialStudies Goals and Content AreasChallenges N M SDLack of community involvement in determining social studies goals and content 402 3.20 0.90areas.Lack of teacher freedom to add or delete goals and content areas of socialstudies syllabus.405 3.05 1.02Lack of students’ involvement in determining social studies goals and contentareas.400 3.03 1.04Lack of participation in professional development programs to enhanceknowledge and skills related to social studies.394 2.84 0.94Lack of access to academic journals and publications related to the field ofsocial studies.401 2.78 1.01Priority of teaching other subjects over the social studies in your school. 401 2.64 1. 17Lack of technology tools such as computers and educational games in yourschool.400 2.64 1.16Lack of students’ interests in learning social studies. 392 2.50 1.10Lack of administrative support from the school or school district. 401 2.42 1.10Lack of teachers’ interests in teaching social studies. 392 2.12 1.09Insufficient instructional time devoted to teaching social studies. 395 1.66 0.97The primary purpose of the present study was to examine social studies teachers’ perceptions about theimportance and implementation of social studies goals and content areas that should constitute the socialstudies curricula of grades five to 10. Of nine social studies goals included in this study, helping students feel183