Developed with contributions from administrators, faculty, and students in four model college sites, as well as faculty from community colleges across the nation, employers of associate degree graduates, and a task force of two-year college educational specialists, this report emphasizes the role of the humanities in improving community college…

Heritage education is an approach to teaching, rather than an academic discipline or subject area. It draws on history, geography, literature, the arts, architecture, and the social and natural sciences to study the evidence of the past remaining in the natural and built environment, the material culture, written documents, and in community…

A 10-year study was done by the National Council of Social Studies of the Holt/Rhinehart/Winston elementary social science program, which was adopted by the Des Moines public schools in 1983. The program was found to be comprehensive and compatible with student mental development, emotional maturation, and interest level. This document presents…

Social studies fairs provide opportunities for citizenship education and for involvement in activities that emphasize thinking and inquiry skills. The Louisiana local, regional, and state social studies fairs present exhibitions of projects prepared by elementary and secondary school students to portray applications of basic principles,…

The Williamsburg Charter is a celebration and reaffirmation of the religious liberty, or freedom of conscience, granted by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. It was drafted and signed by more that 150 national leaders and presented to the nation on June 25, 1988, the 200th anniversary of Virginia's call for a bill of rights.…

This handbook was developed for those selected as part of the Kellogg Peer Consultant Initiative which seeks to promote the inclusion of service-learning into core academic curricula. Consultants provide teacher education programs and technical support to those educators developing new programs or strengthening existing programs. The manual is…

Identifying the attributes of the resilient student is a teacher's primary step in building resiliency in all students. This resource book provides teachers with practical, concrete applications and activities for reframing the actions of even the most at-risk students; and changing the focus from problems to solutions, from deficits to strengths.…

This collection of lesson materials for high school teachers and students focuses on the study of ethics and values that underlie the political process in the United States. The collection is meant to encourage teachers and students to examine the value conflicts that frequently appear in the electoral process and stimulate student thinking about…

Youth courts are among the fastest-growing crime intervention in the nation. Youth courts divert minor offenders from overloaded juvenile courts and hold them responsible for their actions. They educate young people about the impact their actions have on others, teach about the legal system, and provide opportunities and a forum to develop and…

Suggestions for service learning projects that have been tested in schools around the state of Washington are presented in this guide. Several specific programs are described along with the rationale of why students should participate in service learning. Suggestions are given on how to develop an ethic of service, maximizing involvement, and…

This issue of "Media and Values" helps students acquire and evaluate media information in order to be effective citizens. The individual articles include: (1) "In the Light of the Fires" (Elizabeth Thoman); (2) "From Milton to Media" (Clay Jenkinson); (3) "Brave New World" (Paul Du Bois; Frances Moore Lappe); (4) "Making Politics Work" (Jay…

The activities in this booklet bring together research and practice in formats that enable communities to define and implement strategies for meeting their educational goals. The seven training activities will help teachers, administrators, school board members, parents, and community members transform their schools into places where learning is…

Experts agree that the U.S. criminal justice system faces a crisis, yet there is a broad range of views as to its sources, consequences, and solutions. There seems to be a public perception that the individual rights guaranteed accused criminals by the U.S. Constitution prevents the criminal justice system from functioning properly. It is…

This citizen's guide to ensuring a safe supply of drinking water for all provides the information and analysis that individuals need to understand the issues and to participate in local decision making. The sources of drinking water, the types of human activities that results in contamination, and the contaminants that are of most concern are…

This monograph attempts to familiarize people with their constitutional rights through the use of a playlet presented as a conversation among three people. The conversation points out that many rights stand in conflict with one another and how a balancing act must be achieved to carry out the enjoyment of one's rights. The monograph proceeds on…