Criticism of the public schools has been unrelenting since "A Nation at Risk" was published in 1983. From that pivotal moment to the present the business community has played a crucial role in setting the parameters of the critique of the schools and shaping the reform agendas that have been proposed and implemented. However, this author has found…

Discusses the University of York's Centre for Global Education's four-dimensional model of global education, which includes inner, spatial, temporal, and issues dimensions. Presents the argument that an irreducible global perspective should include: (1) systems consciousness; (2) perspective consciousness; (3) health of planet awareness; (4)…

This National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) board of directors substantive issue session initiated the process of developing a position statement for the educational observance of the Quincentenary of Columbus' landing in the Americas. The meeting consisted of proposal statements by panelists and advocated the development of a united…

Discusses using historiography on the Reconstruction Era as a method for generating classroom lessons in both inductive reasoning and critical thinking. Urges teaching of historical process as well as content. Suggests emphasizing limitations of available historical data and perspective. Recommends presenting students with historical data allowing…

Reports an individual's observations during a trip to China. Argues that the U.S. government and students must learn to understand and appreciate China because of its large population, market potential, and position among major world powers. Discusses personal impressions, the protesters at Tiananmen Square and elsewhere, and reactions to…

In order to give students an opportunity to personalize their learning through writing, two teachers of a high school American civilization class designed a biographical scrapbook project. The project objectives were to have students read about one person significant in the development of United States history and literature of the Revolutionary…

The teachers of second languages and the teachers of social studies share a weighty responsibility to help students move toward global understanding and multicultural awareness. Possible areas of cooperation between the two disciplines, as well as constraints, are discussed. (RM)

Analyzes the difficulty of depicting a round world on a flat surface by identifying distortions in the traditional Mercator Projection. Questions whether its Eurocentric bias culturally conditions students. Presents other world maps that attempt to resolve more fairly the shape/area problem, including some drawn with computers. Encourages teachers…

Supports research that says females develop a sense of empathy and justice that males do not. Argues that, as a result, women are better to understand and appreciate the multicultural composition of the United States. Suggests using oral histories and role playing to "interview" women on historical periods and topics. (CFR)

This book presents a framework for discussing the action of teachers in public elementary schools as the 21st century approaches. An educator with almost 30 years of teaching experience speaks from the perspective of teacher and parent. He tells tales about his family and his life as a teacher; he shares his social and moral philosophy and what he…