The world is experiencing a democratic recession, and in the United States, core democratic beliefs are under attack. As a key social organization, academic institutions have a central role in the protection of democracy. Boards, presidents, faculty, and students have the ability--and responsibility--to protect and advance democracy. A course in…

On January 10, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Albert Shanker Institute cosponsored a panel moderated by AFT President Randi Weingarten on the role that American education should play in responding to the threats confronting our democracy. Two leading public intellectuals, Timothy Snyder, the Richard C. Levin Professor of History…

"In the Shadow of Authoritarianism" explores how American educators, in the wake of World War I, created a student-centered curriculum in response to authoritarian threats abroad. For most of the 20th century, American educators lived in the shadow of ideological, political, cultural, and existential threats (including Prussianism,…

The American public can count on a few things during the presidential election season. First, candidates will take a moral high ground and forswear mudslinging. Before long however, they will proceed to engage in nasty accusations against their opponents. A vibrant democracy ought to welcome carefully thought-out views that, when intentionally…

In the decade since September 11, 2001, much that affects almost every American has changed: Memorials have been built and visited. Ceremonies and commemorations have been held. Osama bin Laden has been taken out. Further acts of terrorism have been perpetrated and more (as far as everyone knows) have been fended off. Yet some things haven't…

Dedicated to discussing the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution, this conference report presents the texts of six speeches. The presentations include: "Return to First Principles: The Philosophical and Historical Roots of the Bill of Rights" (A. E. Dick Howard); "How Do We Deal with First Principles?" (Herbert Atherton);…

Provides excerpts from a forthcoming book on how high school-level history textbooks deal with the development and value of political democracy. Criticisms focus on: (1) these texts' choice of topic (particularly their emphasis on the West), (2) their handling of the political ideas of Ancient Greece, and (3) their representation of the meanings…

The false starts, failures, and potential for recidivism of public education are reviewed in an historical context. An expansion of educational opportunities within the parameters of a democracy in order to realize human intellectual capabilities is defended. (Author/KM)

Examines how the timing of Virginia's Ratification Convention twisted the principles of presumption and burden of proof in favor of the Federalists. Applies Richard Whately's rhetorical constructs to actual debates to analyze rhetorical strategies and voting behavior. Argues the need to modify the meaning of presumption and burden of proof. (KEH)

Considers how the Bill of Rights originated and has evolved. Reviews the political views of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison and the nature of their support for the Bill of Rights. Explains nineteenth-century classical liberalism and its revolutionary view that political power inhered in the individual rather than in property ownership. (CH)

In this essay, Diana Schaub, associate professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Loyola College in Maryland, asserts that the 9/11 attack on America showed students the fallacy not of relativism, but of toleration. They are now aware that there are limits to toleration. By giving such a vivid display of the horrors of…

More than 15 years have passed since publication of "Education for Democracy: A Statement of Principles", in which perspective and encouragement were offered to teachers and schools to instill in students an attachment to democratic values and institutions. In the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001, this call is being renewed.…

Examines research and literature on race and ethnic groups published between 1911-2000, documenting how knowledge created by social scientists, historians, and intellectuals reflects social and cultural contexts and political and economic interests. Notes the competing paradigms and explanations developed in each historical period, explaining that…

The fifth grade social studies curriculum includes a study democracy within the context of United Sates history. The traditional approach to teaching the material focuses on stories of the white, male heroes of American History and calls on students to be passive recipients of information. History is presented as a series of events that "just…

This volume contains source materials relating to the historical development of Constitutional rights and issues, and the current problems created by the application of the guarantees embodied in most of the important Constitutional provisions. Essentially a revision of the original California publication, its purpose is to "accommodate many…