Few intellectual and social movements of this century have had so pervasive an influence on the theory and practice of American education as the mental hygiene movement. This movement substantially altered ways of thinking about education, in particular, the school's responsibility for children's personality development. The movement's history is…

Most criticisms of American schools are too broad and are off-base. The first criterion in evaluating education should be its contribution to character formation. Students cannot cope with authority figures, rules, and routines; a school structure that teaches them to regulate themselves is needed. (PP)

Television can be used as an effective tool by teachers despite the harmful quality of much television programing seen by children. If teachers were to integrate their curriculum with the relevant television programing, children's personality integration would be aided and education could influence the quality of commercial television programing.…

Excerpts chapter five from Ele Monoszon's "The Establishment and Development of Soviet Pedagogy." Examines general problems, objectives, principles, and methods of the Soviet pedagogical theory of upbringing. Notes research and theories of key Soviet educators in the 1970s and 1980s. (CH)

Presents the National Council for the Social Studies' position paper on character education. Calls for a renewed effort by social studies educators, schools, and communities to teach character and civic virtue. Argues that students must be offered a combination of instruction and guidance on civic virtue to counter increasing indifference. (MJP)

Excerpts chapter five from Ele Monoszon's "The Establishment and Development of Soviet Pedagogy." Defines didactics from a Marxist-Leninist perspective, identifying principles and problems in content, methods, and organization of instruction. Reviews teachers' participation in research and development of Soviet pedagogy. (CH)