On August 9, Michael Brown, a college-bound black male, was fatally shot by a white police officer in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri. For several days, jarring images of tear gas, militarized police, and unrest in Ferguson flickered on screens across the world. Undoubtedly, what brought Ferguson to the national consciousness--the death of a…

This article describes a lesson in which students will examine several views expressed by the founders to understand the context for including freedom of the press in the First Amendment. Students will be asked to think about the role that the news media and the need to be an informed citizen continue to play in our democracy. Students will…

Given the low turnout among younger voters, it is important to seek innovative ways of engaging students in the electoral process, and a presidential year like this one offers exciting opportunities for doing so. In this article, the author describes her experiences with a schoolwide project designed by herself and colleagues that simulates the…

One of the primary goals of social studies education in the United States is to prepare students for civically active, politically informed, and socially engaged democratic citizenship. Too often, however, the curricula fall short of this goal. Textbooks and state curriculum standards tend to portray citizenship as a static concept rather than an…

Explores the issue of privacy focusing on informational privacy and how it could be jeopardized by new technologies. Provides contexts of privacy and discusses privacy and celebrity in U.S. culture, privacy abuses, and privacy as a common value. Includes teaching activities by Michelle Parrini and Jennifer Kittlaus. (CMK)

Presents a brief history of minority involvement in journalism, focusing on the effects of the Kerner Commission Report of 1979. Points out that 20 years later, the number of minority journalists has increased only slightly. Suggests that professional groups should work together to urge the media to diversify. (LS)

Contrasts the working life of the U.S. cowboy with the whitewashed myth promulgated throughout the media. Discovers some parallels between the nomadic loner embodying an individual code of honor and the Hollywood representation. Discusses the genesis of "the singing cowboy" and includes examples of the actual early ballads. (MJP)

Describes an activity in which students examine the value content of news presentations. Explains that after classroom brainstorming, students watch news broadcasts and answer values-related questions. Suggests references for teachers on the sources of U.S. values. (SG)

Presents an interview with Tim Robbins that focuses on the making of the film "Cradle Will Rock." Robbins offers his perspectives on issues such as the power of art to convey important social messages and sources of violence in schools. Includes resources for teachers. (CMK)

Provides background information on the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. Presents teaching activities that focus on the background information and Commodore George Dewey's response to Assistant Secretary Roosevelt's telegram that ordered Dewey to take up offensive operations in the Philippines. (CMK)

Discusses the controversial issues involved in the jury systems, such as jury selection, jury service, civic participation, and the role of the mass media. Stresses the importance of maintaining the public courtroom as a means for encouraging fair trials and not allowing closed courtrooms. Provides an accompanying article, "The Citizen's Jury," by…

Explores the role of television in politics providing historical examples of the use of television and its possible effects on elections. Focuses on television as the dominant medium for politics, the connections among television, advertising, and political money, and ideas for reforming the electoral process. Includes a teaching activity on…

This article discusses the relationship between teachers, classroom controversy and the media. It also features the story of Ayesha, who coincidentally is one of the authors of this article. Ayesha's story is a social studies teacher's bad dream featuring one of her worst fears: (1) public criticism; and (2) controversy over something that has…

Summarizes a wealth of evidence establishing a causal relationship between television viewing and violence. Outlines a series of corrective measures available within the fields of media literacy, public policy, and education. Briefly discusses related issues such as government versus self-regulation, and First Amendment protections. (MJP)

Points out the power that television has in shaping opinions and in promoting and banishing stereotypes. Presents examples of positive role models in both entertainment and news programing. Emphasizes the importance of reflecting a pluralistic society in news reporting. (LS)