—William C. WoodEven as economic indicators show the U.S. economy doing well, millions of Americans report living in economic distress. The author offers four reasons for this apparent contradiction.79

—National Council on Economic Education, New YorkAn unregulated banking system in the nineteenth century contributed to a string of severe money panics. A short play in this lesson plan helps students understand why this happened and how today’s Federal Reserve System protects against panics.76

—Mark C. Schug and M. Scott NiederjohnThe change in leadership at the Federal Reserve, after more than 18 years, provides an opportune moment for students to study the Fed s historical development, the causes of the Great Depression, and the tools used by the central bank to avoid an economic crisis.69

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—Mary Beth DonnellyWhile educators continue to value Holocaust education for raising awareness on human rights abuses and genocide, a yearlong study reveals that the range of different teaching practices and rationales is wider than many think.

—Simone SchweberWhere students once viewed the Holocaust with awe, some now seem to trivialize it. The author reflects on the commodification of the Holocaust, teaching approaches, and current politics.51

The nomination process of Supreme Court justices is often fraught with political tension. A panel of experts discusses the judicial nomination process, the role of interest groups, and the possibility for reform.34700134

—Kahlil ChismThe Freedmen’s Bureau was one of few agencies established to improve the lives of former slaves. Four documents highlight for students the bureau’s efforts to help African Americans acquire land, secure jobs, legalize marriages, and pursue education. 27

—Joanne DufourThe Nobel Committee’s selection for the 2005 peace prize—the International Atomic Energy Agency and its chief—offers teachers an opportunity to revisit the topic of nuclear proliferation at a time when arms control efforts appear stalled.19

—Diana HessAs policymakers look for an escape route from the controversy about teaching intelligent design as science by passing this hot potato into social studies, are they creating more problems than they can solve?14