Discusses how students can relate to Mark Mathabane's autobiographical novel "Kaffir Boy"--his questioning why he must attend school, his open defiance of his father, and his struggle to resist peer pressure. Examines where an all-white high-school faculty started in terms of developing a multicultural literature program, where they have…

Argues that participation in high school forensic activities can change students' lives. Maintains that the activity teaches lessons about language and communication that go beyond what can be learned in the classroom. Explains the benefits of forensics to teachers and how interested teachers can prepare themselves to become involved. (TB)

Summer book groups enhance and sustain student literacy behaviors over the break, making available an enjoyable social forum for critical-thinking and critical-reading practices to occur naturally. Significantly, the book groups grant faculty and students an informal space to connect meaningfully through reflective discussion of texts. Because…