Provides a review of Mortimer J. Adler's 1987 book, WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS. States that Adler's book offers a useful "behind the pages" look at constitutional ideas and provides material for exciting lesson plans and fascinating class discussions. (JDH)

Tips for making civics courses interesting include: (1) communicate course goals to students; (2) ensure that what you are teaching is worthwhile; (3) assess what students already know; (4) organize facts around a few big ideas; (5) vary learning activities; and (6) present a balanced view of government's activities. (RM)

Presents findings of a survey concerned with the civic education preparation of future teachers. Concludes that a large percentage of students in teaching credential programs have insufficient knowledge of subject matter connected with civic education and Constitutionalism. Includes data charts, a sample survey, and suggested actions to remedy the…

Written by a former teacher of the House of Representative Page School, this article provides a brief history and overview of the Page Program offered by the U.S. House of Representatives. Includes requirements for becoming a page and information on how to apply for the program. (JDH)

Describes the rationale and objectives which define the relationship between content and skills of the Civic Education Social Studies Curriculum. The curriculum is a project of the Carnegie-Mellon Education Center in cooperation with five Pittsburgh and two Bakersfield, California high schools. (KC)

Teaching responsible citizenship is a constant and on-going theme in the grade-level settings of the 1981 "History/Social Science Framework for California Public Schools." The topics of government courses at each grade level, 1-12, as proposed by the Framework are discussed. (RM)

American government should be taught using an experiential approach. Activities are suggested. For example, student representatives to school boards can be given responsibility for researching student attitudes and involving others in interaction with the board and administration. (RM)

Teachers ought to be doers as well as teachers. A government teacher discusses how participating in the political process helped his teaching. Learning activities are suggested. (RM)

Socio-civic elements basic to society are the imperative for a social studies program emphasizing process skills, human understanding, cultural goals, population problems, environmental protection, peace education, political responsiveness, interdisciplinary approaches, futures, and globalism. (Author/ND)

Responds to the 50th anniversary of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by arguing that elementary school is an appropriate place to begin teaching about human rights. Outlines the rights enumerated in the UDHR, provides related activities for primary and intermediate grades, and suggests related Web sites. (DSK)

High school students learn about city, county, and state government through field trips. Included are forms for debriefing and student and community agency staff evaluations, follow-up exercises, and lists of do's and don'ts for teacher planning. (SR)

Depicts the lackadaisical attitude of students in a high school government and history class. Cautions that without a sound knowledge of and appreciation for democratic rights and the political struggles from which they developed, future generations may lose the privileges that they currently enjoy. (DSK)

Siamese baseball is used to introduce secondary government students to a study of authority, justice, responsibility, and privacy. The thematic/conceptual approach to the course is outlined. (RM)

Supplements a previous article by the author on the National Teachers' Training Convention in the Philippines. Presents a lesson plan for comparing the voting forms and procedures of the Philippines with the United States. Includes a reproduction of a Philippine voter registration form for use with the lesson. (DSK)

Provides a two-to-four period lesson plan designed to help students in grades 7 through 12 explore the power of the U.S. President to use military forces. Based on the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the legislation which it spurred, the lesson includes teaching procedures, discussion questions, and student readings. (JDH)