Proposes that when teachers structure the classroom around the student, differentiation starts to happen. Outlines the following suggestions in order to do so: make it meaningful; make it authentic; differentiate content; make it interdisciplinary; and practice what you preach. Concludes that if educators are willing to eliminate ineffective…

Describes how a high school newspaper handled a sensitive issue (in this case the arrest and indictment of a teacher), choosing to face undesirable news by getting the facts correctly, explaining them, and putting a stop to speculative stories. (SR)

Urges educators to concentrate on science education for the majority of students, not a select few. Explains the major cause of disinterest and failure--the way science courses are structured, sequenced, and taught. Proposes a revised U.S. high school curriculum requiring ongoing courses in biology, chemistry, and physics for all students. (MLH)

The authors describe the assumptions and characteristics of the Curriculum-Based Vocational Assessment approach in meeting the challenges contained in the Perkins Act's assessment mandate. They present a definition and characteristics of this approach. Such issues as personnel, cost considerations, and adaptability are considered, and…

Provides both the pedagogic and scientific thinking that guided the construction of a classroom role play called "The Great Evolution Debate," which is about the publication of Darwin's "The Origin of Species." Provides tentative findings regarding learning from role playing. (ZWH)

UCLA has issued world history standards calling for less memorization and more historical thinking skills. The standards are neither rigid nor doctrinaire, but they have been criticized for promoting a national curriculum, stressing 20th-century events, downplaying traditional U.S. heroes, exhibiting an anti-Western bias, confusing suggestions…

Describes methods of approaching Toni Morrison's novel, "The Bluest Eye," for the secondary classroom. Suggests that it was the students' responses to the novel that showed to the teacher the importance of this controversial work. Provides numerous examples of students' written responses to the novel. (HB)

Provides four practicing teachers' written responses to Carolyn Henly's article entitled "Reader Response Theory as Antidote to Controversy: Teaching "The Bluest Eye," which appears in the same issue. (HB)

Considers the emergence of the so-called culture wars in contemporary American society. Contends that, in the context of such cultural conflict, the English classroom is a particularly important battleground. Considers how English teachers might structure their classes to address the culture wars. (HB)

Discusses the issue of whether or not Mark Twain's novel, "Huckleberry Finn," should be taught. Reviews various arguments for and against teaching the novel. Concludes that the novel is worthy of being taught. (HB)

Numerous suggestions are offered to teachers (especially secondary teachers of specific disciplines) to integrate thinking skills instruction with their subject matter. The ideas for teaching creative, evaluative, and predictive thinking in history, literature, math, and French are designed to develop independently thinking students without…

Discusses how religion and fiction can be a troublesome blend in literature for young people. Notes that many writers have found it simpler to avoid spiritual issues altogether, to stay with the safe and secular. Describes that one solution a number of writers have grasped is to portray protagonists as learning to seek the answers within…

Notes a growing concern among scholars and teachers interested in bringing diversity into the classroom of recognizing and valuing differing perspectives when raising volatile issues. Offers suggestions and examples of how teachers can use the larger corpus of young-adult literature to bridge the gap between interpretation and understanding. (RS)

Responses from 71 parents, 147 education professionals, and 199 vocational administrators found general support for teaching the National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences. More people thought content areas should be taught than believed they were being taught. (Includes commentary by Rosa S. Purcell.) (SK)

Describes a course designed for students to gain knowledge with a degree of relevance by providing opportunities for student appreciation of the physics associated with features in everyday life. (GS)