This paper is a collection of pieces that contemplate life and mortality in the realm of education. A terminally ill, eight-year-old boy named Kole and his struggle within the confines of formal schooling inspires it. This piece of poetic inquiry gives voice to questions that need to be addressed in schools today, such as: In the face of…

This paper, written in a highly personal style, follows the "docustory" model first employed in "Communication Education" in 1993 when the journal presented a series of 13 docustories from various scholars in the field--each tried to articulate "When Teaching Works." The paper is a partial attempt to value the…

Poetry is a powerful avenue through which students can learn to express their voices and to "write like people." In the special needs classroom, where students traditionally have had difficulty with narrative structure, and therefore have gone unheard, developing voice through poetry becomes especially crucial. Samples of students'…

Presents a poetic and metaphoric rendition of "data" collected by an Aboriginal faculty member exploring the usefulness of traditional knowledge and ceremony in contemporary Western university classrooms. Includes Elders' teachings and institutional and student responses related to the use of smudge in the classroom. (Author/SV)

This book for children (ages 8 to 14) and accompanying teacher/parent guide presents the story of two sisters, one of whom has a physical disability, as they prepare to participate in a wedding. Information on the disability is deliberately presented subtly and incidentally to encourage the reader to relate more personally and foster a deeper…

A tenured college professor offering a course entitled "Human Knowledge: An In-Depth Survey" is forced to cancel the course and go into early retirement when students rebel against such "outdated" course requirements as compulsory attendance, written examinations, and grades. (JBM)

This book for children (ages 8 to 14) and accompanying teacher/parent guide presents the story of two young friends, one of whom uses a wheelchair and coaches her friend in coping with a broken leg. Information on the disability is deliberately presented subtly and incidentally to encourage the reader to relate more personally and foster a deeper…

Presents a narrative case study based on the use of cooperative learning in a 10th-grade global studies class. Focuses on ethnic groups and emerging issues related to national sovereignty. Describes student participation in group discussions about these topics. (CFR)

This book for children (ages 8 to 14) and the accompanying teacher/parent guide present the story of two brothers, one of whom has a severe hearing impairment, who climb up Mt. Fuji in Japan. Information on the disability is presented subtly and incidentally to encourage the reader to relate more personally and foster a deeper level of acceptance…

Presents a fictitious dialogue between a student teaching supervisor and a student teacher about cooperative learning in the classroom. Reviews and evaluates the classroom procedures used by the student teacher. Concludes that cooperative groups improve student interaction and discussion skills. (CFR)

This book for children (ages 8 to 14) and the accompanying teacher/parent guide present the story of a young girl (who happens to have a physical disability and uses a wheelchair), her friends, and their experiences at summer camp as they search for a favorite horse. Information on the disability is presented subtly and incidentally to encourage…

Intended as a marketplace for the ideas and creativity of California community college faculty, this issue of "The Forum" contains not only articles on educational issues, but also short stories, poetry, and musical compositions. Included in this issue are the following: (1) "A Poet's Journey," by Nancy Edwards (poem); (2) "Toward an Effective…