Rap, a popular music that emerged in the United States during the 1980s and 90s, is described as a creation of young African American culture. It belongs to a centuries old legacy of using language creatively in everyday life. The roots of the music are seen as part of the African-American oral and musical traditions that encompass the hidden…

The article discusses a new Wisconsin 4-H activity called "History and Heritage" which encourages youth and adults to work together in a search for a personal past that will make for a more meaningful celebration of the Bicentennial. (Author/BP)

Intended to help teachers of English, language arts, and other subjects interpret "English Only" language issues for students, parents, and school communities, this book addresses various aspects of the controversy. Articles, listed with their authors, are as follows: (1) "The Roots of Language Protectionism" (Harvey A.…

To understand the problems that urban schools encounter educating Puerto Rican students, teachers must understand the history and culture of Puerto Rico, which has been a melting pot of many different cultures. North American culture became prevalent after the Spanish-American War (1898) and the passage of the Jones Act (1917), which gave U.S.…

This is an autobiographical account of a teacher's first day in an inner city high school; it contains a discussion of the importance of understanding the subculture of one's students. The teacher's dress and comprehension of slang are noticed by the students. Incidents are related that illustrate the effects of ethnocentrism (the belief in the…

Principles of the book, "The Hurried Child" by David Elkind, are applied to gifted children. The areas of school, media, parents, and peers are examined in the context of their "hurried effects" on gifted children. (DB)

Argues that Nigerian tribal myths and beliefs keeping infants and young children from looking into mirrors interfere with the early development of self-concept. The self-concept of infants is viewed as contributing importantly to the way they perceive other aspects of their environment. (RH)

Discusses the development of the thinking function and factors influencing that development, and presents strategies for teaching thinking. (MD)

"Transformational Professional Learning" is a periodically published e-newsletter designed to influence what educational leaders think, say, and do to improve teaching and learning by promoting deep understanding of important issues, the transformation of beliefs and assumptions, and a stream of powerful goal-focused actions. There are two…

Crisis intervention is a vital component of any comprehensive approach to maintaining psychological well being. An active school-based crisis intervention team can make a powerful contribution to a school's sense of community and commitment to taking care of each other. This special edition presents promising practices that may be helpful to…

This paper discusses the history and the impact that current social conditions of Native American people has upon their education, careers, relationships, and physical and mental health, and offers suggestions about how counselors can help Native Americans improve their lives. The structure of the paper includes a brief history of some of the…

Focuses on two of the proposed schemes in the International Baccalaureate Program's "The World Literature Teachers' Guide" (Geneva, 1972): that which examines the emergence of the individual in the Renaissance and the concept of the Absurd in contemporary literature. (Author/RK)

Discusses cultural and family factors to consider when evaluating a student with disability for assistive technology devices, and the need to involve families in decisions about the uses of the devices. The need to be sensitive to family needs for acceptance and to be aware of cultural differences is discussed. (CR)

Discusses how changes in public school students and the culture that produces them have affected the teaching of history. Examines aspects of MTV's success for clues to the source of students' view of history as irrelevant. Attributes the view to the blurring of differences between the sacred and profane, connections between cause and effect, and…

Presents information on ethnomathematics which is defined as the meeting of cultural anthropology with mathematics and education. Emphasizes the importance of multicultural education and ethnomathematics in the mathematics curriculum. (ASK)