One of the things that plagues too many social studies classrooms is an unwillingness to be brutally honest with our students about America's ugly past and its shameful present.  Too many teachers have a sanitized curriculum.   Have the courage to be honest and transparent with your students, even if the subject matter is extremely controversial like the truth about 9/11.  We can't ask our students to be agents of change if they don't know the problems that exist that people, including teachers, are reluctant to talk about.