"Difficult" or "challenging" topics to teach include racism, violence, genocide, bullying, gangs, abuse (physical, emotional, and substance), slavery, suffering, hatred, terrorism, war, disease, loss, addiction, and more. But by confronting them with students, in the safety of a classroom through thoughtfully constructed lessons (ones that take…

Claims the view that the teaching of composition stagnated during the first two-thirds of the twentieth century is too narrow. Discusses the approach taken by Professor Baird and his English 1-2 staff as being innovative, intellectually challenging, and historically significant. (NH)

Discusses how freshman English separated from other courses. Considers many different points of view regarding the development of freshman English versus composition and communication. Ponders what composition would be like in the last half century had it incorporated communication. Concludes that when freshman English won the "Turf…

Details the curricular reforms of the post-Sputnik era in American high schools, especially the national stampede to an elective curriculum in English instruction. Covers criticism of the movement and the profession's struggle to define English studies. Provides pros and cons of an elective curriculum. (HB)

Claiming that discourse has atrophied in a social climate that provides little space for reasoned discussion of vital issues, this paper explores the role the general education course in public speaking has played in the past and the role this course could play in the future in the restoration of public space. Divided into three focused sections,…

Discusses the impact that Charles Eliot had on the development of science education in America starting in the late 1800s. Describes his involvement in the development of the Harvard list of laboratory experiments suggested for all physics students to have completed nationwide for enrollment in college. (MVL)

Examines how movies have formed history by (1) analyzing theories of history; (2) comparing historical perspectives in certain films; and (3) exploring how film language and techniques reflect history. Focuses on films from the United States, Europe, Japan, or Brazil. (PD)

Reviews selected writings relevant to the establishment of library instruction programs for future teachers. Materials from the early part of the century define issues and place them in historical perspective, and current studies provide an analytical perspective. Several publications describing instructional materials and programs are included.…

Provides a course description that emphasizes a structural and functional approach to the musical as genre film and as entertainment. Covers the history of the genre from 1929 to the present. (PD)

The educational history of geography instruction in France from 1870, when it was first taught at the university level, through the 1970s is discussed. (RM)

Reflects on the evolution of a British Film Institute course in avant-garde film. Discusses the historical development of the genre; production, distribution and exhibition of avant-garde film, as well as political relevance. (JMF)

The syllabus developed in 1938 for the Soviet Union's curriculum in international legal education is outlined, with a list of references that forms part of the syllabus. The development of the syllabus is also described. (Journal availability: 137 MacDougal St., Room 24, New York, NY 10012, $3.50.) (MSE)

The arguments put forth in the 1930s against indoctrination in American education from the standpoints of the social reconstructionists and of the followers of the Bode-Hullfish position are presented. The only viable alternative to indoctrination was seen to be the study of social problems. These views continue to shape classroom practice. (RM)

The paper describes and evaluates the development of materials produced by the Organization of American Historians' (OAH) project entitled "Restoring Women to History." Contributors to the OAH project faced several choices in developing guidelines for incorporating women's history into the basic American survey at the college level. The guide's…

The history of the basic course in speech communication in college shows that it has maintained a continued emphasis on public speaking and that change has been slow. A review of the literature revealed that the course has been typically viewed as a public speaking course taught in self-contained sections with one instructor responsible for…