Maintains that the debate over the social studies curriculum has been heavily influenced by a small group of conservative foundations, academics, and the federal government. These groups work toward creating an ideological consensus that promotes a national identity and strives to preserve European American dominant culture. (MJP)

This book provides a collection of papers that address the enhancement of faculty teaching and learning in an increasingly interconnected multicultural society. Three interconnected dimensions of multicultural teaching are focused upon: content, process and discourse, and diversity of faculty and students. Papers and their authors are as follows:…

This document contains summaries of 12 presentations given at a conference held in reponse to the comprehensive Oregon school improvement plan entitled "Oregon Action Plan for Excellence." The plan provides a framework for improving public schools in the areas of graduation requirements, academic expectations and assessment, teacher and…

This chapter reviews legislation and court litigation during 1986 that addressed the rights of handicapped students and employees. The most far-reaching legal activity occurred in the legislative arena, with the passage in 1986 of the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA) mandating that services must be available for handicapped children between…

Posits character education as an integral element in transforming the mission and purpose of schooling. Discusses the grass-roots and collaborative efforts of educators in organizing information and support networks implementing character education. Maintains that character education is necessary to correct the antisocial messages and gratuitous…

Describes the cumulation of concern over the last 10 years that brought leading educators and business people together to create an organization that supports comprehensive character education programs. Discusses the work of this organization, the Character Education Partnership. Lists 11 principles for program development and describes model…

Reports on the work of the Child Development Project. The project outlined a series of approaches and characteristics shared by successful character development school programs. These include creating a caring community, a social constructivist approach to staff development, use of cooperative learning strategies, autonomy, belonging, and…

Asserts that the representative form of government and the public schools in the United States are not supportive of democracy. Argues that the democratic features of representative government envisioned by the writers of the Constitution were undermined by the growth of the nation's population. Recommends some political and educational…

This symposium presentation comprises five papers about the efforts of a consortium of three Iowa liberal arts colleges (Clarke College, Loras College, and the University of Dubuque) to develop a critical social perspective in its teacher preparation curriculum. An introduction by Michael Vavrus defines critical social perspective as a critical…

Profiles the implementation and accomplishments of the Allen Classical/Traditional Academy in Dayton, Ohio. The elementary magnet school integrated a character education program into its classical education curriculum. Discusses the specifics of this program including the use of a discipline plan and school uniforms. (MJP)

Reflects on the leadership role of a County Office Superintendent in bringing character education to students countywide. Reiterates the importance of systematic training, collaborative involvement with the community, and student recognition for program success. Includes information about the Character Counts! Program and addresses for receiving…

Illustrates how school evaluation can lead to substantive and genuine involvement of all stake holders (students, parents, teachers, the community, administrators, government, and funding agencies) in an effort to make judgments about what is right and good in schools. Includes a six-step process for evaluating school programs. (MJP)

Illustrates the ways that a cultural studies approach to teacher education can expand the vision of democracy and citizenship. Analyzes the development and subsequent breakdown of the economic foundations of 20th-century life and offers new understandings that can be used to inform a democratically aware teacher education program. (MJP)

Posits three interdependent languages that we use to make democracy work: (1) language of possibility; (2) language of critique; and (3) language of action. Argues for the creation and incorporation of a fourth, the language of transition. This allows for the exploration of spaces between the other three. (MJP)

In 1994 the Carnegie Corporation of New York convened the Carnegie Task Force on Learning in the Primary Grades to examine all the forces that contribute to children's learning and development during the age span from 3 to 10. The 33-member group of business and political leaders, scientists, educators, researchers, and practitioners conducted…