Walter Parker

University of Washington, Seattle

Professor emeritus of Social Studies Education

Walter Parker is Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction and, by courtesy, Political Science at the University of Washington, Seattle. He studies social studies curriculum and instruction, K-12, and concentrates on civic education—teaching and learning about democracy. His design studies have focused on the high school government course: Which knowledge and skills are worth learning in depth? How can curriculum on the national government be articulated with curriculum on state, local, and tribal governments? How can knowledge and engagement be related, and does participation in political simulations accomplish both? What is meant by “educating global citizens” in school systems designed to advance national economic security? Parker’s articles have appeared in Educational Researcher, Phi Delta Kappan, The Seattle Times, Teachers College Record, AERJ, Theory and Research in Social Education, The Social Studies, Citizenship Teaching and Learning, and Journal of Curriculum Studies. His long-running “Research & Practice” column in Social Education was awarded Best Column in a Learned Publication by the American Educational Publishers Association. His books include Renewing the Social Studies Curriculum, Educating the Democratic Mind, Teaching Democracy, Social Studies Today, and Social Studies in Elementary Education. Parker lives in Seattle with his wife, Sheila Valencia.