As long as there have been public schools, there have been reformers of public schools. All too often, they have insisted on sweeping changes; enamored of their bold, new idea, they haven't considered whether anything established ought to endure. The result? A century of faddish ideas, but little real progress. Among today's most vocal reformers…

This article presents the authors' critique of lessons proposed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21). The authors initiate a discussion about content that they hope will play out in schoolhouses and statehouses across the country. They take on a different task: they present a handful of lesson ideas from P21 that could enhance studies…

Debates concerning how the issue of human life's origins should be handled within the confines of American public schools still continue. In order to mitigate the impact that evolution has on students, some school boards and state legislatures have recommended that stickers voicing a disclaimer about evolution be placed in biology textbooks. Even…

Summarizes the major criticisms that have appeared in the literature and argues that values clarification should not be used in the public schools or by such quasi-public agencies as Scouts, Planned Parenthood, and 4-H. (JOW)

Two groups leading the charge against dissection are People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Student Action Corps for Animals (SACA). Protests by student and community members remain the movement's strongest weapon. (MLF)

Places the new right's censorship activities into a larger political and social context. Highlights the differences between feminist and antiracist concerns about textbook content and right wing book banning. Suggests ways to defend academic freedom. (SK)

School leaders must withstand the pressures of the animal rights movement to disrupt the science curriculum. It would be tragic if this movement succeeded in turning a large number of students against the legitimate use of animals and, ultimately, against biomedical research. (MLF)

Reports on a study that attempted to determine the current, actual place of Bible literature in high school English classes and the reasons that affect its place. Finds that Bible literature seems to play an extremely small role in high school literature programs. (TB)

World events, increasing diversity in the classroom, and headlines about the latest court cases all ensure that religion will remain a sensitive and sometimes contentious issue in the public schools. Challenges readers to think about how they would respond to 12 hypothetical classroom situations involving religion. (Author/MLF)

A student was disqualified from running for a high school office because he had used "The Safe Choice" as his campaign motto and handed out condoms with that slogan. Argues that the court in "Henerey" overlooks the test in "Tinker" that expressing opinions on controversial subjects is acceptable as long as the speech…

Summarizes the constitutional basis for separation of church and state as it relates to litigation concerning religion and public schools. Discusses prayer and Bible reading, the minute of silence, posting and distribution of religious materials, and evolution and creationism. Provides a summary and general guidelines for using religious…

A review of "Contentious Curricula: Afrocentrism and Creationism in American Public Schools," by Amy Binder, claims it is a valuable analysis that employs a social movement perspective to uncover the dynamics involved in proposals for and the politics of curriculum change, especially in highly contested curriculum areas. (Contains 13…

Teachers have a professional/ethical obligation to teach their subject in as balanced a way as possible so that students will not come away with a biased slant that, in their eyes, has been validated by the school system. The teaching of social studies, especially history, would be impoverished if matters of religious beliefs and influences were…

The author contends that any type of indoctrination in the classroom, be it political, moral, or religious in nature, is inappropriate because it flies in the face of students' academic freedom, which should be carefully nurtured and rigorously defended. However, as he has continued ruminating about these matters, it has occurred to him that…

U.S. public education has always been value laden, and a straightforward approach concerning what values will be taught is an appropriate policy. In spite of U.S. pluralism, a relatively common set of traditional values is possible and desirable. Three assumptions have been accepted in this essay: (1) no one lives a value-neutral life; (2)…