Describes a middle school program in Wisconsin that has a curriculum based on basic skills and provides exposure to special areas such as art, business, education, foreign language, music, home economics, physical education, and industrial education. (MD)

To counteract the popular misconception among Canadian high school students that Canada's past is bland, the article describes an introductory unit in Canadian history which uses historian's ideas and conflicting viewpoints selectively to create a stimulating subject. Learning activities, teaching techniques, and handouts are described. (DB)

Discusses the polarized educational system that emerged in Great Britain between 1770 and 1850, based upon student mentality levels. Explains that the differing treatment of higher and lower mentalities was incorporated into a system of separate schools. Describes the system as an institutionalization of the mental and manual divisions of labor…

A transactive curriculum development system is described which comprehensively identifies characteristics of a learning environment and suggests curriculum content that takes into account both external demands and students' interests. The curriculum encourages students to be independent learners without sacrificing basic skills or alienating…

Describes the development of a computer tutorial for use in a history of economic ideas class. Discusses choosing topics intended to attract and hold student attention and writing the tutorial text. Recounts steps taken in obtaining student reactions to the tutorial and subsequent adjustments. (SG)

Maintains that the wide-ranging children's literature of Jane Yolen created a rainbow of effective instructional materials for elementary social studies. Recommends instructional strategies for teachers using Yolen's books. Presents a bibliographic essay describing 12 Yolen books. (CFR)

Contends that the Commission on Graduate Education in Economics report addresses issues related to doctoral programs but does not provide information on master's degree programs. Reports on a study of 123 colleges offering master's degrees in economics. Finds a surprising lack of variation among the programs. (CFR)

Teachers at the Dag Hammarskjold School No. 6 in Rochester, New York, developed an interdisciplinary curriculum for fifth and sixth graders that they call the Interesting Questions Approach. Teachers and students choose questions about a topic and plan activities that will enable students to find the answers. (LB)

A questionnaire was sent to 161 international graduate students studying agricultural education/extension in the United States to identify implications for the International Training Program at the American Farm School near Thessaloniki, Greece, and to assess the students' degree of interest in attending the Farm School's Training Program.…

For a geography department to be successful, it must develop qualitatively superior images and relationships within the university. Aggressive participation by geographers is advocated in matters involving relationships with other disciplines, the university decision-making process, concerns of students, alumni and developmental activities, and…

The redesign of basic science curriculum at the Columbia University (New York) dental school is outlined. Goals included development of a medical continuum allowing students to apply basic science to patient care; decompression of crowded second-year content; and facilitation of student pursuit of research and other biomedical interests in third…

Given the lack of interest among college and high school students and the declining rates of participation in political affairs, the concept of political specialization has significant implications for teaching political science. Research reveals that almost 90 percent of high school students who do not plan to attend college are either completely…

Proposes that teachers use make-believe and fantasy to motivate and assist students in addressing the art object. Provides suggestions for using both familiar and fantasy roles to develop skills and insights related to art criticism. (CFR)

Discusses the use of children's literature within the social studies curriculum to teach about other cultures. Includes fiction set in another place, works set in both another place and time, and informational or factual accounts of other countries. Urges use of multiple books on the same culture and foreign books to capitalize on children's…

Addresses issues that might be raised in the study of art history from a critical theory perspective. Suggests that, in view of contemporary environmental and social concerns, Neolithic art would be of particular interest to students as would the possibility of having a society in which neither sex was dominant. (KM)