This National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) board of directors substantive issue session initiated the process of developing a position statement for the educational observance of the Quincentenary of Columbus' landing in the Americas. The meeting consisted of proposal statements by panelists and advocated the development of a united perspective on teaching about the observance. Panel member Gary Nash emphasized that students needed to understand the long range effects of the event and the continued relevance to current life. Panelist Charolotte Heth discussed the expansion of the theme from a celebration to include encounter, conquest, resistance, adaptation, synthesis, and emergence with the use of arts. Panel member LeVell Holmes established the importance of models with positive language and themes of cooperation to provide a place for multicultural values. Panel member Lynn Oshima promoted group activities and lessons that focused on information gathering rather than answers to develop multiple perspectives. Panelist David Vigilante included language exercises and discussion of text passages to promote different perspectives. Six NCSS subgroups developed important components for inclusion in proposition statement for the Quincentenary of Columbus' landing in the Americas along with stated conclusions on the effective revisiting of heritage from a multicultural perspective with the inclusion of minorities. (CK)