This study focuses on the nature of teachers' arguments for and rebuttals to 10 denial theories about anthropogenic climate change that are most commonly encountered in the media and public debates. Through a semi-structured survey, the study collected data from 24 participants who are K-12 teachers in Maryland and Delaware. The deductive coding…

Current community-engagement models, which relegate the public's role to insignificant activities, play into special-interest groups' hands. One new approach creates alternative forms of community forums to encourage public deliberation. Forums frame issues to invite deliberation; allow participants to deliberate, not debate issues; and provide…

More children are killed outside their school buses than inside. To solve this problem, we should improve bus design, provide driver training programs for all school bus drivers, utilize the latest safety devices available, and improve ridership safety curriculum. (MLF)

We are in the midst of a genuine First Amendment Crises. Government officials, who are totally immune from libel or slander suits for anything they write or say or do in office, are free to sue the people they are supposed to serve. Examples are provided. (RM)

The relationship between beliefs in the legitimacy of political objects and approval of political protest and violence was investigated. Beliefs in political legitimacy are shown to be of considerable importance in structuring opinions about political violence but have little impact on opinions about protest. (Author/BJG)

Once they have nuclear power, most countries will divert nuclear materials from commercial to military programs. In excerpts from the book "Facing the Danger" (by Totten, S. and M. W., Crossing Press, 1984), five anti-nuclear activists explain how and why they have been addressing the nuclear connection. (RM)

The author believes that, in our bicentennial celebrations, we are tending to create a Madison Avenue image of the Revolution. The bicentennial could be celebrated in a more meaningful way by reexamining the values for which the founding fathers fought and by dealing with our present problems in light of that tradition. (Author/RM)

During the mid-nineteenth century, Americans created the functional equivalent of earlier state religious establishments. Supported by mandatory taxation, purportedly inclusive, and vested with messianic promise, public schooling, like the earlier established churches, was touted as a bulwark of the Republic and as an essential agent of moral and…

Maintains that citizens in a democracy have a patriotic responsibility to speak out against policies with which they sincerely disagree. Lists examples of notable American dissenters, provides guidelines for responsible dissent, and presents the comments of three prominent citizens regarding the influence of common people on government policies.…

Using an excerpt from one of Plato's early dialogs, this article examines the distinction between knowledge and opinion. It urges teachers to invite gifted students to reflect on this distinction to make the students more receptive to all levels and types of experiences and to maximize their knowledge in as many subjects as possible. (CR)

One type of conflict is controversy (disagreement), which is discussed as a teaching technique that can be used in the classroom. Five possible procedures are suggested for introducing it to students. For journal availability, see SO 504 878. (ND)

Political obstacles to curriculum changes can be avoided by inviting participation by curriculum specialists, teachers, parents, and other citizens in the decision-making process. (Author/MLF)

Describes political and educational views of the Marxist-oriented Quebec Teachers' Union as evidenced in their books which criticize Quebec schools for reflecting capitalist society and having no relevance to working class students who form the majority of enrolled students. Available from: Editor, Andrew G. Clark Building, Colorado State…

"Alinsky methods," designed for confrontation, can include packing meetings, requesting marathon sessions, and using dramatic advertising. Developed by Saul Alinsky for oppressed people, the methods can be mitigated by 10 administrator actions, including building openness and trust, having good legal and public relations advice, and…

Interviews with 22 parents who had participated in a special education appeals process, 16 school officials, and 6 mediators found 8 factors that escalate parent-school conflict: discrepant views of a child or a child's needs, knowledge, service delivery, reciprocal power, constraints, valuation, communication, and trust. (Contains references.)…