Book excerpt: Social studies education is not in excellent health. The time has come to transcend the often stilted discussion about lesson plan format and the proper construction of behavioral objectives. Kincheloe suggests a reconsideration of the discourse of social studies which is grounded on the assumption that social studies teachers should control their professional lives and not merely «execute» the plans of their superiors. The idea of self-directed social studies teachers aware of their purpose offers an atmosphere of possibility to a field haunted by a lack of grounding.