One of the long-standing priorities of the international community is to reduce gender disparity in developing countries. Yet, the overall picture is still gloomy: women continue to be excluded from access to resources and employment and are denied basic human rights. This Policy Brief explains why progress has been so minimal and what should be…

My purpose for writing this commentary is to reflect on how one teacher attempted to utilize the philosophies and practices of Paolo Freire, Augusto Boal, and Myles Horton in a graduate level, educational foundations classroom. I take as my premise the view that pedagogical practice is political and that the processes of studying and changing…

Following a brief discussion of what is currently being taught in social studies, the major propositions of a radical perspective that has emerged among academics are examined. According to the radical perspective, the ultimate social ideal and the purpose of education is the emancipation of all people. Social studies should concentrate on ideas…

This paper offers an explanation for the rise of radical, social movement activity among youth in the United States in the 1960s and for the decline of such activity in the 1970s. Mannheim's theory on generations is used to explain this phenomenon. Mannheim argued that the major historical events of an era will profoundly shape the political and…

Four issues concerning human values in America will affect the formation of future educational goals. These issues have impact on the development of a values system and on the analytical thought process. First is the need to choose between an emphasis on liberty and an emphasis on equality. Present confusion in American society is illustrated by…

Techniques for applying Brazilian adult educator and political organizer Paulo Freire's theory of "conscientizacao" are discussed. Freire's pedagogy is designed to liberate both oppressor and oppressed from the victimization of the oppressive system through "conscientizacao" or consciousness raising. The term refers to the developmental processes…

The controversy surrounding college admission criteria is examined. It is noted that racial classifications and preference of ethnic and racial minorities, as part of a university's admissions policy have been seen to constitute reverse discrimination. Proponents of a racially neutral admissions policy argue for a strengthening of standardized…

A local community (Tullahoma, Tennessee, in this case) can serve as a good example to students of how a given locale fits into a geographic region and exhibits characteristics which are both typical and atypical of the region in general. Tullahoma typifies the rapid social and economic change which has characterized the South since the 1930s. In…

Because public opinion polls have become important sources of information for legislators and politicians, public opinion pollsters should carefully consider the relationships between gender wording of polling questions, measurement errors, and validity and generalizability of survey findings. Findings from numerous research projects indicate that…

The pessimists' view is that the U.S. family is collapsing; on the other hand, optimists view it is as merely diversifying. Too often, both camps begin with an ahistorical, static notion of what the family was like before the contemporary period. Noting that the actual complexity of our history gets buried under the weight of an idealized image,…

Claiming that politicians, private interests, and the media unfairly blame adolescents for America's social problems, this book explodes various myths about teen pregnancy, violence, and risk behaviors. The chapters are: (1) "Impounding the Future," examining trends in various social indicators such as rising rates of child poverty…

This book presents an interdisciplinary chronological perspective on the history of children considered exceptional and how services to them have evolved over time. It begins by placing the origins of special education in historical context from Aristotle through the Enlightenment and beyond. Subsequent chapters consider individual conditions…

The five episodes from American life narrated in this unit attempt to show various methods of protest against different oppressions, ranging from revolt against the law by armed resistance, to getting an objectionable practice eliminated by a fresh interpretation of the Constitution through the courts. An important fact is pointed up--even though…

Asserts that the role of women, peace, and nonviolence have been ignored in U.S. history textbooks. Traces the history of the women's rights movement through U.S. history and emphasizes the links with the peace movement. Includes an annotated bibliography of 13 items for teachers and students. (CFR)

Largely missing from debates about family values, childcare, education, and the future of children is the complex vocation called "parenthood." This book examines parenthood in the home, the community, and in society, and identifies parental stressors that have increased since the 1960s, calling on stakeholders to provide help with…