Representing the views of persons from a variety of fields including parents, educators, authors, librarians, and publishers, the papers in this journal issue explore the fine line between censorship (with an eye toward silencing ideas) and selection (with the recognition that just as literature can enlighten it can also degrade). Following an…

Renewing some previous considerations on the "manufactured" split between literature and composition instruction that is currently dividing many professionals in higher education today, this paper discusses the economic and political reasons for the initial separation of composition and literature in the classroom. The paper argues that…

Intended for reading and language arts teachers of multiethnic classes, this report discusses the use of children's literature featuring Asian American characters and how these books can have a negative or positive influence on attitudes toward and of ethnic groups. The first part discusses the importance of presenting Asian American children's…

This new method for teaching college English in India is based on prior assumptions but is given a justification and a methodological framework previously lacking. The method, which lies somewhere between the manipulative control and regimentation employed at the school level and the total freedom of the existing college method, is described in…

Identifies resources to aid librarians in making material selections, including: discussion groups to review books; student and teacher recommendations; public library story hours and book review seminars; and professional association meetings. (CLB)

Presents a rationale for engaging in regular storytime and offers guidelines preschool teachers can use to conduct read-aloud sessions that support children's interactions with literature. Also lists questions for evaluating picture books for early childhood education and books that teachers can read aloud. (BB)

This document presents an interview with Pam Martell, who coordinates educational services to Michigan's approximately 60,000 Native Americans. Since over 98 percent of Michigan's American Indian children attend public schools, Martell places a high priority on the quality of public education. Equally important is working on issues concerning…

In order to prepare children for the responsibilities of citizenship in a technological society, the Science, Technology and Society (STS) approach, which integrates various subject matter disciplines, can be implemented through the use of children's literature. In this way, STS units combine language arts, reading and literature, and teach and…

This paper describes classroom activities developed around constructivist learning theories (that is, students are always learning because they are constantly constructing their own personal meanings and reflecting on them) as they are applied to English as a Second Language and remedial English students in a secondary classroom dominated by…

The seven articles in this focused journal issue are concerned with choosing books for teaching and the various constraints on those choices. The first article, by Richard Lederer, discusses George Orwell's "1984" and the principles of Newspeak. His article sets the tone for the next two articles: "Beware the Misuse of…

Questions related to the teaching of Russian and Soviet literature in the second language programs in India are explored, particularly, the amount of time to be devoted to the study of literature, an appropriate method, and the most appropriate time to introduce it. Russian has been taught in India for only 30 years and only recently have…

The lawyer representing "Concerned Women for America" discusses the real issues in the Tennessee Textbook Case, as opposed to the apparent issues. (NKA)

The majority of current college freshmen see no place in their lives for reading as an opportunity for intellectual or emotional enjoyment. They read only the most utilitarian texts--appliance instructions or road signs, for example. A teacher cannot "make" students read anything, but he or she can help them find ways to like reading;…

Focusing on literature and the teaching of literature, this monograph presents and discusses salient issues, inviting the reader to participate in the dialogue. The first section following the introduction presents reasons for teaching literature and discusses the types, quality, and selection of literature, as well as literature and values. The…

Presents an overview of the competing visions of the literature curriculum currently being advanced. Also presents the historical roots of the approaches, as well as the assumptions about learning and adolescents that each approach makes. (NKA)