Analyzes "The Idiosyncratic History of the University," a chapter in Allan Bloom's "The Closing of the American Mind". Focuses on Bloom's history of the university as explained through Socrates' philosophy. Concentrates on the role of philosophers in society past and present. Discusses the Enlightenment, Existentialism,…

This essay revisits Karl Jaspers' classic, "The Idea of the University." Jaspers was reinstated as president of Heidelberg University in 1945, and he presided over its rebuilding. His book, "The Idea of the University," written in 1946, was published in English 13 years later. It interprets an ideal of the university and…

Discusses the inadequacy of current rhetorical criticism and theory for the evaluation of protestors and agitators. Explains why discourse by and about women should be integrated into rhetorical studies, reviewing 11 books which make key texts available or increase understanding of feminism as a historical social movement. (SR)

This essay examines the educational opportunities of people in poverty who receive social welfare assistance. The dominant political theory underlying social policy (including education policy) in the United States has evolved from 1960s and 1970s welfare liberalism into 1980s and 1990s style neo-conservatism -- a theory that embraces principles…

Discusses Joan Del Fattore's book, "What Johnny Shouldn't Read: Textbook Censorship in America," and the complexity of problems posed by current censorship efforts. (SR)

Reviews Robert Westbrook's book, "John Dewey and American Democracy," which analyzes intellectual debates in which Dewey was involved. The book provides a critical account of Dewey's role as an agent of political change and a promoter of participatory democracy and participative decision making. (SM)

Reviews six films about issues related to multicultural and social justice education in the United States: "It's Elementary: Talking about Gay Issues in School"; "Starting Small: Teaching Children Tolerance"; "In Whole Honor?"; "Children Talk about AIDS"; "Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary";…

Although these are substantial reasons to question Wilshire's notion of a complete moral collapse of America's research universities, he does call attention to ethical problems. Wilshire supports restoring the task of teaching to undergraduates in a new professional ethic for the professoriate. (SLD)

The Values Scale (VS) is a self-report inventory of 106 scored items yielding 21 separate scales for the individual assessment of upper elementary school and middle school students as well as adult members of semi-skilled, skilled, clerical, managerial, and professional occupations. The VS, available in seven languages, measures several intrinsic…