Issued by National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and its following Associated Groups:

• College and University Faculty Assembly (CUFA)
• International Assembly (IA)
• Social Science Educational Consortium (SSEC)

approved August 17, 2017

As members of the National Council for the Social Studies, we express deep concern for the events taking place in Charlottesville, Virginia, and their aftermath during the past week. Acknowledging the long term and divisive history of racial hatred and religious intolerance in the United States, we deplore acts of reckless violence and declarations of white supremacy, which tear at the foundation of our common civic unity and faith in democratic ideals.

As social studies professionals, we strive to prepare students for civic competence and active participation in our society. Such active participation only happens with a sustained commitment to providing rigorous social studies instruction everyday as part of a well-rounded education.

Soon, students will return to class, whether in university or K-12 classrooms. These events continue to stress the need for sustained public discourse and instruction about the world around us. We cannot remain silent about such critical themes as culture or global connections and expect our public to have appropriate civic engagement.

How should social studies educators address these issues in the classroom? While such a conversation can be very difficult for some students and in some contexts, social studies teachers carry the responsibility for fostering democratic values and engaged citizenship in the classroom. We are tasked with brokering difficult conversations about issues of equity and social justice that engender open-mindedness and thoughtful responses to harmful language and actions. We encourage all social studies teachers and teacher educators to equip our children and students with the tools to eradicate hate, fear, and violence in our democratic society.