Asserts that central goal of sociology is to provide students with sociological perspective or the ability to reflect on their own society from a distance. Argues that ethnocentricism can be affected by an "insider's bias" and an "outsider's bias." Describes the use of Horace Miner's "Body Ritual of the Nacirema" as a…

The Committee on Ability Testing's report (see ED 213 770 and ED 213 771) is shown to give primacy to employment productivity and efficiency values, creating an institutional bias in their analysis of testing. The importance of a balance of alternative multiple perspectives to broaden testing criteria, standards, fairness, and social values served…

Among the activities at Colorado College in late-summer preparation for the coming academic year are organization of the freshman orientation program focusing on the topic of prejudice, residence hall adviser training, and faculty research. (MSE)

Addresses the problem in an introductory women's studies course of student resistance to generalizing statements that document inequality in society. Discusses a presentation made to the class on the importance of generalizations in understanding sociological and political research findings, including statistics. Maintains that objections to…

A law professor describes his experience in teaching a seminar law school course about the abortion debate, including efforts to allay student concerns about teacher partiality, course design and content, criticisms received, and classroom interaction over the issues. (MSE)