Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to frame Khaled Hosseini's novels, "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns", as literature to expand and enhance the American secondary curriculum with multicultural themes based on Afghanistan as a geographical and cultural place in a dynamic, diverse, and complex world more…

This article enters into contemporary debates regarding methodology and training in comparative and international education by addressing epistemological questions about "what" can be known of the world and how it can be known through comparative research. We contend that debates over qualitative versus quantitative methods or area studies versus…

The necessity for cross cultural studies, the pitfalls inherent in such study, and advocacy of a culture-study approach are discussed in this article. (JH)

Reviews the historical development of Canadian studies in United States textbooks and other instructional material. Notes common shortcomings and misconceptions of early materials. Describes how an expanded and more even treatment of Canada would improve social studies instruction in the United States. (JDH)

Advocates the use of foreign students as resource persons in area studies units. Identifies programs in Michigan which promote cross cultural education via the use of foreign students as classroom speakers. (JDH)

Identifies reasons why social studies educators should improve their teaching about South Korea. Included in the list is the increasing numbers of Koreans being educated in the United States, the summer Olympics in 1988, and the use of Korean culture as a case study demonstrating the effects of cultural transmission and society in transition. (JDH)

Learning activities will help secondary students become aware of Korea as a separate entity in Asia, see Korea as a developing area of the modern world, and gain an appreciation for Korean traditions. (RM)

Recommended ideas and approaches are: selective attention to people, contemporary issues, and basic concepts; content from the social sciences and humanities; comparative methods; encouragement of active student participation using inductive methods; and development of critical thinking skills." (Author/VW)

Discusses how the global approach can be used to teach about Japanese culture in elementary and secondary social studies classes. Students compare and contrast Japanese and American cultures. Methods for helping students to become familiar with aspects of Japanese culture are included. (AM)

A brief discussion of the development of a symposium assessing the interdisciplinary status of Borderland studies is provided. Also included is a general discussion of the problem involved in defining Borderland studies. This journal is available from Editor, Social Science Journal, Social Science Building, Colorado State University, Fort Collins,…

This article outlines geographic contributions to Borderlands studies in terms of 1) their general, regional and topical contributions; 2) specific studies and institutions dealing directly with the border; and 3) an evaluation of current research and a reference to future needs. For journal availability see SO 504 297. (Author/DE)

A study of Japanese ways of coping with pollution, urbanization, and industrialization offers an opportunity for the social studies student to gain intercultural perspectives on the continuing problems of a modernizing society. Three perspectives on ways of coping are presented to illustrate the concept. (Author/JH)