Maintains traditional interpretation of the Reconstruction Era tends toward intellectual incoherence instead of probing the historical forces at work. Reviews seven college textbook treatments of the Reconstruction Era and finds three adhering to the traditional approach while four project strong thematic schemes. (CFR)

Provides an annotated bibliography of materials for use in teaching about the Bill of Rights. Includes items selected for their breadth of instructional techniques, variety of sources, and uniqueness. States prices and directions for obtaining the materials. (SG)

Presents research findings regarding the historical knowledge of fifth, eighth, and twelfth grade students and college level elementary education majors. Concludes that students learn the content of U.S. history as they progress through years of schooling. Reports student unfamiliarity with more recent historical events and difficulty in…

Presents U.S. broadcasting history as the interplay between powerful commercial forces and a broadcast reform movement that opposed commercial control of the industry. Suggests that broadcast reformers developed traditions of media criticism that are useful today. Describes the lack of debate preceding the Communications Act of 1934 as a weak spot…

Addresses the media's role in changing the nature of heroes in the United States. Describes the changes in cultural values that resulted in statesmen and soldiers being replaced by athletes and film and television celebrities. Attributes change to the development of the consumer society, centralization of the entertainment industry, and advances…

Presents a lesson plan designed to enhance student understanding of the value of history study. Focuses on David Laushey's 10 values of the study of history. Creates a series of discussion vignettes based on these concepts. Includes questions for study and a list of vignettes for classroom discussion and problem solving. (NL)

Discusses the life and career of Lowell Mason, the first professional music educator in the United States. Explores Mason's dual career as educator and businessman. Describes his involvement in choral directing, instrumental music, public school music teaching, and music teacher training. Attributes Mason's success to his teaching skills,…

Reviews the constitutions of several western states that provide an absolute barrier between religion and public education. Asserts that these laws were passed after the Civil War when concern about minority religious influence in some states was high. Maintains that these state laws may be the next battleground in the ongoing controversy about…

Describes the significance of the election of 1800 in the development of political parties in the United States. Contends that Alexander Hamilton's view of the United States Constitution was dangerous for the new nation and led to a permanent split in the Federalist Party. Includes a resource bibliography for teachers wishing to incorporate this…

Examines the philosophical and judicial conflicts on the U.S. Supreme Court between justices Douglas and Frankfurter. Traces their disagreements citing specific court cases. States they represented judicial activism and judicial restraint. Concludes it is possible that the country benefited from the philosophical tensions and debates generated by…

Reviews the development of the Louisville, Kentucky, public school music program from its establishment in 1844 to its suspension in 1879. Examines rationales for introducing music into the curriculum; debates over teaching methods; and choices of music curricula. Uses primary sources, including minutes and annual reports of the Louisville school…

May 17, 2004 marked the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in the historic school desegregation case, "Oliver L. Brown et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka (KS) et al." After concluding a survey of elementary school teachers about the struggle for school desegregation in the 1950s and 60s, this author found that, in most…

In this article, the author describes a social studies class activity that uses primary sources to develop a soap opera based on the American Civil War. In the soap opera activity, students can watch historical characters as they grow, develop, and change. Not only do people in the soap opera develop over a long period, but their accumulated…

The document offers practical and motivating techniques for helping students achieve economic literacy. The activities are designed to develop competency for effective citizenship as a consumer, a worker making occupational choices, and a voter on socioeconomic issues. The material in the elementary section discusses economic wants, scarcity and…

This guide to the social studies was developed for use in the senior high schools of Duval County, Jacksonville, Florida. Topics covered are United States government, United States history, anthropology, bible history, comparative institutions, European history, Florida history, human relations, political science, economics, psychology, sociology,…