The question about the degree of development of primary education in the Don in the XIX century remains controversial among historians. Archival documents and testimonies of contemporaries allow us to cover this question in completely different ways (both quotes in the title are taken from them). The article attempts to summarize statistical…

"Faculty Misstatements in Management Education and their Consequences" is a thought-provoking article that draws attention to what information is being disseminated in business schools. The article argues that faculty communicate misinformation about the economic model and what matters in life. This rejoinder addresses the notion that…

Identifies nine myths prospective members frequently hold regarding group counseling. Discusses four leader strategies for challenging these myths: using a pregroup interview; providing factual information; group conceptual-low intensity responses; and group structural-low intensity responses. Concludes that leader may use these strategies singly…

Notes that data on working for the nonprofit sector is not readily available to college students who are involved in career decision making. Identifies 10 myths about work in the nonprofit sector and discusses facts for each myth that reveal the myth to be untrue. (NB)

Teachers and students alike report difficulties with the measurement unit called mole. This article tries to demonstrate that mole and the corresponding quantity are not exceptional. Mole lacks the context of a given amount because the unit measures the relative number of atoms compared with those present in a standard. Discusses history of…

Discusses students' preconceptions of randomness and offers an alternative way to think about the concept using the idea of complexity. That is, the randomness of a sequence can be measured by the difficulty of encoding it. Methods of judging complexity and implications for teaching are discussed. (Contains 30 references.) (MKR)

Though the field of physics is moving toward more realistic problems and the use of computers and mathematical modeling to promote insightful treatment of physical problems, artificial problems still appear in textbooks in the field of electrostatics. Discusses physical arguments why one of the most popular textbook applications of Coulomb's Law…

Fourteen myths about recovered mental patients are discussed in this pamphlet. The myths are introduced in a true/false checklist. Famous recovered victims of mental illness are cited, most notably Abraham Lincoln. Three vignettes concerning non-famous people and the rebuffs they faced as they attempted to become self-sufficient are presented.…

For most students textbooks are the main source of their information about scientific concepts; however, there are a number of errors which frequently appear in textbooks and are consequently transmitted to both teachers and students. Some of these errors which may represent widespread misconceptions of teachers are outlined. (Author)

This paper describes the current approach used in Israel for teaching photosynthesis to junior high school students. Authors identify two types of problems, psychological and instructional, that children experience in understanding photosynthesis. Presents a foundation and sequence for a new approach to teaching photosynthesis. (18 references) (PR)

People frequently make assumptions about others because of their spoken or written use of a particular dialect or language. The varieties of English that people use are often regarded as indicators of corresponding intelligence, competence, motives, and morality. Such assumptions--frequently based on myths and misconceptions about the nature of…

The speed of light is a fundamental characteristic of the universe. So many processes are related to and dependent upon it that, if creationist claims were true, the universe would be far different from the way it is now. The speed of light has never been shown to vary based on the direction from which it was measured. (PVD)

Discusses environmental hazards, the problems of misinformation and contradictory information, and the problems for children in sorting out fact from hearsay. Includes tips for protecting children from environmental hazards and describes a program at the University of Washington that develops curriculum materials and other teacher resources. (PVD)

The road to Brown v. Board of Education (1954) was a slow and circuitous climb, whereas the retreat down from Brown has been swift and direct. This article reviews 4 distinct U.S. Supreme Court eras of racial decisions: the segregation, preparatory, desegregation, and resegregation eras. It notes both the strengths and weaknesses of Brown and…

Presents the history of the theory of evolution and states that the creationist world view had been abandoned by even religious scientists before 1859. Argues that the public's perception of evolution could be improved by presenting a more complete picture of the theory's development, emphasizing the contributions of Christian--often…