Applauds the adoption of National Standards in Civics and Government as necessary and overdue. Briefly describes the consensus-building process that produced the standards. Contains a list of the five significant questions asked, along with guidelines for classroom implementation of the standards. (MJP)

Postulates that students' untutored and unrehearsed verbatim responses to viewing artworks parallel specific schools of thought in aesthetic theory. Middle school students tape recorded their responses to a previous museum visit. Their responses reflected some of the key concepts in expressivism, institutionalism, and formalism. (MJP)

Analysis of 642 slang terms that college students use to characterize peers at Holy Cross College (Massachusetts) and University of California, Davis suggests that undergraduate slang usage is socially complex, the language is reflective of campus and academic life, and that it portrays undergraduate life from the perspective of dominant student…

This series of papers examines the role of play from various angles, discussing play as an essential human function and universal experience, the role of play in developing cultural values and awareness, a symbolic interactionist view of play, early therapeutic recreation specialists, and the direction of commercialized play. (SM)

Interviews with 87 adolescents from farm and nonfarm families in rural New York revealed that farm adolescents were closer to their families, were more isolated from peers and peer-related activities, were less likely to pursue a college degree, and were unlikely to remain on the farm despite the positive aspects of farm life. Addresses…

Discusses various research findings aimed at helping teachers provide a classroom climate which leads students to develop better number sense. Focuses on number and symbol meaning, including number size, place value, and fractions, as well as computation and computational estimation. (MKR)

Contends that cooperative learning techniques lead to more student self-direction and active participation in the learning process. Reports on the experiences of three teachers using cooperative learning. Concludes that cooperative learning helps teach democratic principles and respect for cultural diversity. (CFR)

Advocates cooperative learning, rather than competitive learning, in the classroom. Offers an example of cooperative learning among nursery school children in Tenants Harbor, Maine. Discusses ways for teachers to facilitate cooperative learning in program and classroom design. (BB)

The effects on children's school achievement of countercultural nonconventional family organization and parental values were studied in a 12-year longitudinal study of 146 nonconventional families and 43 2-parent conventional families. Strong commitment to meaningful values about the family lifestyle can protect children from risks that can…

Reviews teaching materials for use in multicultural education. Materials described include posters, novels, picture books, toys, games, and curriculum packages. Topics include religious diversity, values, children's stories, bilingual literature, human rights, Native Americans, women's studies, multicultural art, immigrant students, gender equity,…

Maintains that today's students will be soon be functioning in leadership and service roles, making decisions that shape their personal lives and those of others in a world of rapid change and challenge. Discusses student empowerment and maintains that it should be construed as helping all students. (CFR)

Explores the use of a comparative approach in a library instruction workshop for culturally diverse populations. The distinct world views of Chinese and Western students are compared, and the impact of these views on each population's mode of thinking and on the design of the workshop is discussed. (seven references) (Author)

Identifies links in Soviet continuous education from preschool to postsecondary study, and their objectives. Discusses lifelong learning as a means of keeping pace with socioeconomic and technological developments. Advocates democratic and humanistic reforms in the Soviet educational system in response to the political changes of perestroika. (CH)

Kozol's books examine how public schools perpetuate racial injustice, noting ethical abdication by the affluent in violation of children's innocence and capability by urban schools. Schools fail children by deforming the spirit of the poor and soothing the conscience of the rich. Kozol demands greater resources for poor students. (SM)

Proposes to replace the principle of equal opportunity with an "anti-caste" principle to build a new society and to secure economic and social rights. Suggests a United States Charter for Socioeconomic Rights. Outlines the moral, legal, and political bases for the proposal and offers a Charter version. (JB)