A diverse democracy brings together people whose differences include partisan leanings, life experiences, histories, religious beliefs, racial identities, and sexual orientations to address common problems and build a shared future. Social studies educators can help prepare youth to pursue this goal by advancing core commitments to respectful and…

Every four years during the presidential election season, the media focuses on the perceived apathy of young people, and many well-intentioned organizations zero in on mobilizing young voters. This strategy leads to a myopic focus on just registering students to vote without adequate attention given towards the larger task of growing voters and…

Educators have been increasingly sensitized to the role of schools in developing students' cyberethics, cybercitizenship, and cybersafety, which have emerged as one of the most pressing and yet unexplored areas of education. The Department of Defense has identified challenges to cybersecurity infrastructure as a significant risk for the…

Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton declared natural disasters somewhere in the United States on average of about one per week between 1998 and 2005. Despite this frequency, most citizens are unprepared when a natural disaster occurs in their city or neighborhood. In particular, teachers and students can become paralyzed by the overwhelming…

Procedural principles that must be decided before teachers and schools can assume responsibility for moral education are outlined. (JH)

Describes how public schools, one embodiment of American dreams, have ricocheted, between dreams and nightmares and promise and despair, over the last century and a half. (RM)

Four positive remarks about the essential components of career education are followed by criticism of the federally-sponsored pilot models. Three further reservations are directed toward the priorities given educational reform. (KM)

A survey of student opinion reflects the influence of schools on the development of sex roles. Activities are suggested to learn the social science skills of data collection and interpretation in order for students to develop their own concepts and values of role, status, and socialization.

This article features the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. Social studies educators emphasize the civic mission of schools, and the need to provide students with citizenship education of the highest quality. As National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) members are well aware, the focus of recent educational reforms has…

The unrepresentativeness of school policy discussions, religious fundamentalism, and the local opinion that schools should uphold and inculcate traditional values of home and community are emphasized as the reasons for the West Virginia textbook controversy. (DE)

An activity is suggested as one method of examining lifestyle implications of diverse commitments and values to help students deal with both social and personal concerns. (Author/KM)

Education in international human rights needs to develop informed critical judgment for considering human rights principles and applying them in the examination of conditions in any country. The purpose should not be to further nationalistic or imperialistic education. (Author/KC)

Discusses the issue of schoolhouse commercialism including historical background. Addresses the growth of commercialism in schools and explores two types of schoolhouse commercialism: (1) soft drink contracts, and (2) sponsored educational materials. Explains why schools are attractive to advertisers and reports on the opposition to schoolhouse…

Two high school students from Brooklyn, New York, suggest ways for public schools to overcome student apathy by allowing students to take an active role in student government. (Author/RM)