Exploring the dilemma and responsibilities of power, this social studies unit begins with an article by a Chinese Communist who attacks America as aggressively imperialistic and ends with an article by an Englishman who lauds American imperialism. Sections of the unit discuss (1) the nature of imperialism, (2) the substance of European…

The principal technological developments that underlie the communication revolution, especially the transistor and the computer, are reviewed in a nontechnical way. A number of devices and communication subsystems, such as cable television, ultramicrofiche, and communication satellites, that make use of these developments are then described,…

The first chapter of this book describes the physical and cultural environment of Central America and includes analytical comments showing the complexity of the problems confronting the region. Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama are then treated in separate chapters including: 1) political, economic, social and…

This project is a study of school board selection processes in 93 northern cities using the NORC "Permanent Community Sample." This report is concerned with the effects of the appointment of school board members as opposed to electing them either in competitive or noncompetitive elections. In general, researchers found that appointed…

This curriculum unit for citizenship education is concerned with how American business influences governmental and Congressional economic and tax policies. The unit deals with aspects of business and economic affairs from the perspective of civics and citizenship education. Emphasis is focused on business and political issues and priorities, not…

By considering such traditional features as validity and reliability, as well as utility, and political and ethical considerations, this paper attempts to establish that student ratings are not credible as sources of information about teacher effectiveness. Several of the most common problems in the related literature are outlined and include how…

While in the early years of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Russian was emphasized at the expense of English, now the learning of English is encouraged. Students who learn English begin studying in primary school, continue into middle school, with the more talented of the politically qualified getting further study in Chinese institutions of…

Discusses the dominance of the narrative form in President Reagan's rhetoric and how his use of narrative form--characterized by a story-based truth, an emphasis on morality, and a grounding in common sense--affects political judgment, differentiating the perspective of his supporters and his opponents. Considers the power and limitations of…

Describes the impact in Colorado of the shift from categorical federal aid to block grants under the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act. Covers Colorado education's demographic, socioeconomic, and political context; variations in program impact among school districts; the shift's effects on redistribution of federal aid; and selected…

This book presents research on the post-1965 wave of immigrants to the United States by a new generation of immigration scholars. The 20 papers, which come from a 1998 conference, cover groups ranging from high-tech engineers in Silicon Valley to Sudanese Nuer refugees in Minnesota. Many studies report novel findings and fresh interpretations. The…

Voters in California will vote June 2, 1998 to decide the fate of Proposition 227, a measure proposed by businessman Ron Unz that would substantially change the way that students who are not proficient in English are taught. If approved by the voters, Proposition 227, the Unz Initiative, would essentially eliminate bilingual education programs in…

School choice plans have been widely adopted, and most urban areas have a limited choice plan of some sort. This digest presents an overview of different choice strategies by reviewing the experiences of several urban areas. Minnesota has statewide open enrollment for all students, making all public schools throughout the state open to all…

This paper examines the potential contributions of a feminist critical perspective to an understanding of assessment in higher education. It uses as a foundation the nine principles of feminist assessment (published in 1992 as an outgrowth of a project on women's studies programs) and an American Association for Higher Education (AAHE) list of…

This collection of papers explores past and current trends among African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans in the context of a white majority. The papers, presented at the 1998 Research Conference on Racial Trends in the United States, provide analyses of racial and social dynamics and recommendations for future…

Essays on political issues in multicultural and bilingual education include: "Cultural Recognition and Civil Discourse in Democracy" (Carlos J. Ovando, Peter McLaren); "The Political Life of Language Metaphors in Writings About Diversity in Education" (Sharon Pugh, Ovando, Nicole Schonemann); "Contesting Whiteness:…