Written by a prominent array of scholars and practitioners, this book elucidates the complexities, contradictions, and confusion surrounding adolescence in American culture and education. For too long, harmful public myths and lies have portrayed teenagers as a principal cause of our nation's social ills. Similar unfair charges have been lodged…

Reporting on a pilot study of urban junior high students, this report examines the way young people acquire perceptions of their own and other nations and attempts to identify the sources of those ideas. This action research approach used a survey research instrument with a 20-item semantic differential form to measure students' knowledge of and…

This paper demonstrates with specific examples from various students' journals how subtly and, at the same time, pervasively ethnocentricity expresses itself, and offers suggestions on how to assess and combat ethnocentric beliefs through writing assignments and classroom exercises in an international business law course at Indiana University. The…

This case study of 215 high school students in Columbia Academy, an international school in Kobe, Japan, was conducted from 1980 to 1985 to examine the values students hold in relation to their demographic characteristics. The study, written by a faculty member of this school who also served on the Educational Policy Committee of the Board of…

The Australian Commissioner for Community Relations describes and criticizes the Australian traditional ethnocentrism and xenophobia, pointing out that Australia is and always has been a multicultural society. He emphasizes the need for wide changes in education and notes the potential of lifelong and adult community education. (MF)

Examines the historical fallacy, popular in western civilization from medieval to early modern times, that Muslim allies were somehow secretly Christian. These fallacies often served to explain Christian-Muslim diplomacy to the public at a time when Islam was portrayed as the enemy of Christianity. (MJP)

Briefly discusses the adjustment process that non-native teachers go through when teaching Canadian native students. Notes some of the cultural differences between the two groups including concepts of time, conflict resolution, and respect. Concludes that the ever-changing nature of native culture requires teachers to be flexible. (MJP)

Discusses the use of multimedia for teaching human rights in Nigerian schools. Describes the curriculum as almost completely monocultural. Argues that human rights education must be approached within traditional interests and based on what people already know. Urges the demystification of rights. Warns that human rights reflect a Eurocentric…

Observes the activities and characteristics of Aboriginal children in an Aboriginal school and compares these to the culture shock and alienation experienced when they transfer to a mainstream school. Identifies five major stressors of culture shock as mechanical differences, communication, attitudes and beliefs, customs, and isolation. (MJP)

Examines the strengths and weaknesses of an 1828 geography textbook for children, specifically in relation to other textbooks. Jesse Olney's text deviated from the norm by introducing the students to activities focused on community and local geography. Ethnocentrism and racism occasionally marred the lavishly illustrated text. (MJP)

Among the goals of the teacher of human development is to open students' minds to the diverse cultural and ethnic influences that effect the development of children. A new approach to a semester-long human development course offered at Green Mountain College, in Vermont, is based on the study of children's literature. The course is organized…

Criticizes recent attempts to redefine the forced education of American Indians as a triumph of Indian coping strategies and adjustment. While admitting that the process was more complex and symbiotic than earlier models suggested, still maintains that the U.S. government exerted more control than did the Indians. (MJP)

Reviews the historical writing of Spanish historians on the Spanish American War. While this conflict marked the emergence of the United States as a world power, it is considered by many Spanish scholars as a turning point in the decline of the colonial empire. Includes extensive end notes. (MJP)

How the theme of human movement--migration, and particularly immigration--can be integrated into junior high U.S. history and world history/geography courses is discussed. To avoid turning the study of migration into an unwitting process of reinforcing ethnocentrism, two steps need to be taken. First, the movement of people throughout the world…

Determines the extent to which Asian art is represented in Australian secondary art education. Surveys and discusses art appreciation classes, art education curricula, teacher education programs, and the Artists in Schools program. Maintains that although some progress has been made, Asian art is still underrepresented. (MJP)