Proponents of the liberal arts continue to disagree over maintaining the traditional college curriculum versus diversifying it to give a greater role to ethnic and women's studies and to the ideas of non-Western cultures. (MSE)

Describes an approach for including social issues in United States history classes. Provides examples of how specific issues were integrated with common course topics. (JDH)

A national organization of teachers, parents, and school administrators is organizing chapters around the United States to find the best ways to teach about the issues related to nuclear education, to develop new materials, and to research the effect of new curricula on students. (MLF)

A review of "Contentious Curricula: Afrocentrism and Creationism in American Public Schools," by Amy Binder, claims it is a valuable analysis that employs a social movement perspective to uncover the dynamics involved in proposals for and the politics of curriculum change, especially in highly contested curriculum areas. (Contains 13…

The question of whether "intelligent design" amounts to legitimate science, pseudo-science, or religion masquerading as science has underwent a potentially historic legal test, as a federal court in Pennsylvania considered whether a public school district can require that students be exposed to the controversial concept. Eleven parents…

The teaching of controversial issues has been widely viewed as preparing students for effective citizenship and, as such, is regarded as inevitable in social studies classrooms if students are to be able to think intelligently and to participate effectively in society. However, the effective implementation of issue-centered education in African…

Describes the City of York (Pennsylvania) School System's development of a K-12 AIDS curriculum using an advisory committee comprised of school administrators, teachers, noninstructional staff, health care professionals, and college students. The program gained wide community acceptance because of accurate, complete newspaper coverage and because…

In December 1986, the National Association of State Boards of Education's (NASBE) preliminary report on state-mandated AIDS instruction in the schools found only five mandated programs and 17 states with AIDS curricula. A December 1987 NASBE report examining seven broad indicators of institutional change to promote AIDS instruction disclosed much…

Discusses the teaching of evolution in New Zealand during the first half of the twentieth century. Reports that evolution instruction began formally in the 1920s but was withdrawn 30 years later amid protests. Observes that the teaching of evolution predated the 1920s in muted form. Describes the roles of broadcasting and religion in the dispute.…

Addresses U.S. public education's continuing unwillingness to deal with religious issues. Suggests that confusion over legalities, embarrassment, and ignorance contribute to the lack of instruction about religion. Examines what students miss when schools ignore religious topics and how students learn less than the whole truth about U.S. history.…

Ten steps for teaching about sexuality are (1) identify the task; (2) identify the participants; (3) clarify personal views; (4) clarify teacher role and resources; (5) assess the community context; (6) enlist cooperation; (7) select teaching materials and methods; (8) prepare to handle sensitive issues; (9) make a teaching plan; and (10) make a…

Reviews 100 years of history and focuses on the relationship between socially controversial biological issues and the decision-making procedures in the construction of the national curriculum. Contains 39 references. (DDR)

Argues that science teachers need to have training in and input into citizenship teaching to ensure that controversial issues in science are handled accurately and appropriately. Makes the case that such input should be of mutual benefit to science and citizenship teaching. (Author/MM)

Describes the process by which Cherry Hill, New Jersey teachers, in cooperation with parents, administrators, and other professionals, developed a curriculum for teaching "Huckleberry Finn" that successfully explores the controversial issues by embedding traditional teaching in a rich, historical, and cultural framework. Provides the…

This National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) board of directors substantive issue session initiated the process of developing a position statement for the educational observance of the Quincentenary of Columbus' landing in the Americas. The meeting consisted of proposal statements by panelists and advocated the development of a united…