Talking with others, especially people with different viewpoints, about matters of public and common concern is a basic pro-democracy skill and act. For that reason, teaching young people how to participate more effectively in discussions of controversial public issues (CPI) has long been a major goal of social studies educators. In most social…

The nature of materials produced by social science projects are examined with respect to the spectra of opinion about what the social studies should be. The author concludes that these cool" materials (value-free social science through guided inquiry) belong in the midst of investigation of controversial issues. (JB)

Reports on the results of a survey of rural midwestern, fifth- and sixth-grade parents' perceptions of elementary social studies to see if their perceptions were consistent with "Revised National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Curriculum Guidelines." (AH)

Looks at an approach to history which challenges the views beginning college students generally hold about American or world history in order to help them develop habits of independent, self-motivated study. Looks at the problems students have with the approach and the ways teachers can help students adjust. (AYC)

The teaching of ethics or controversial issues in health education must meet two criteria: (1) The controversy must be addressed from various viewpoints; and (2) The issues must involve questions of right and wrong. Examples of values clarification activities are given. (JN)

Recounts events surrounding a superintendent's decision to confiscate an anthology from a senior English literature course because of a few words in one of the poems. (TB)

Reports on results of a teacher's experiment in book burning as a lesson accompanying the teaching of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451." Discusses student reactions and the purpose of or justification for the experimental lesson. (TB)

Focuses on children of the 21st century and their books, both of which have changed dramatically over the past decade. Suggests that teachers and librarians need to recognize and understand the implications of these changes in children and their books in order to provide a reading environment to which children will readily relate and in which they…

The article briefly reviews the research and controversy concerning sex education for handicapped children and offers five guidelines including build self-esteem, answer questions clearly and accurately, avoid threats and jokes, and respect children's privacy. (DB)

Offers a theoretical and political framework for teaching gender and racial issues in a literature course. Discusses the goals of increasing students' awareness of these issues and ways in which the theoretical framework can be used to address specific works of drama, fiction, and poetry. (DMM)

Proposes guidelines for Catholic religious educators to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable theological pluralism, and infallible and non-infallible religious teachings. Considers personal theological competence to be essential in dealing with dissenting ideas in the classroom. (DMM)

Describes a cooperative Educators for Social Responsibility Project to develop materials enabling American and Soviet teachers to teach about each others' countries and U.S.-Soviet relations in a realistic manner. Some major challenges are differing vocabularies and concepts, lack of Soviet educators' experience with critical or independent…

Discusses the important concepts involved in problem solving. Presents a chain representation of problem solving and gives an example of the application of this method. Provides a strategy for teaching controversial issues in a science classroom and gives an example of the implementation of the strategy. (CW)

Attempts to bring together research approaches and an international perspective to the teaching and learning of evolution. Contains 15 references. (ZWH)

Offers suggestions to secondary teachers faced with teaching the concepts of evolution to a group of skeptical students. Presents a variety of comments from groups that support the integration of evolution into the science curriculum and opposing the adoption of creationism as a part of the science curriculum. (ZWH)