This examination of deep-seated structural problems facing public education today is built on the premise that a new beginning is needed in which education focuses on critical thinking or "rational learning." Such a focus presupposes that students and teachers master the critical-analytical vocabulary of the English language in…

The author demonstrates how to teach a college political science course on the Arab-Israeli conflict in an objective, unbiased way. Objectivity is important because of the obvious biases and the nature of this controversial issue. (JR)

Lists eight effects that could result from the ruling in "Mozert v. Hawkins County Public Schools." These include widespread censorship, limitation of controversial topics, interference with management of instruction, and disruption of the school day. (MD)

Much of the content of college courses on the Vietnam War is superficial and biased toward the American point of view. The greatest problem is ignorance about the Vietnamese perspective, both Communist and non-Communist. (MSE)

Federal courts upheld the rights of two school boards to cancel planned student plays. One play was intended as part of a secondary school's curriculum and the other was an extracurricular activity for third graders. Both plays contained controversial material. (PGD)

Reviews issues and events related to adopting high school biology textbooks in Texas. Specific reference is given to the viewpoints of Mel and Norma Gabler. It is argued that factors controlling textbook content should not result from past market forces, but from a permanent science constituency and an informed public. (DH)

If South African apartheid is considered a matter of professional as well as personal concern, then there are two clear levels of potential involvement, the professional organization level and the school/classroom level. What educators can do at these two levels is discussed. (RM)

Discusses lack of literature on controversial subjects that can help prepare children and young adults to deal perceptively with complexities of modern world. Highlights include meeting the issues head-on, glorifying armed conflict in video media, avoiding issues of nuclear war, and intellectual depth and dealing with controversial issues. (12…

How classroom debates can be used in a developmental psychology course to teach students about controversial issues and to help them improve their thinking and oral communications skills is described. Evaluations indicate that students consider debates to be a positive learning experience. (Author/RM)

The existence of nuclear weapons is the most pervasive political and military fact of the past 40 years, and children need to be informed about nuclear concerns if they are to become good citizens. It is therefore educators' responsibility to teach the subject, however uncomfortable. (PGD)

This article examines school sex educators' views toward selected topics and their importance to the sex education curriculum. Findings indicate that teachers feel the topics were necessary, with biological aspects and sexual health care being most important. Details of the methodology used in the study are discussed. (DF)

Suggests strongly that teachers of English should help students become more skillful at analyzing the messages on war they receive, so they can confront the nuclear predicament and begin developing alternatives. (CRH)

This article offers guidelines drawn from the last 200 years of ethical theory to aid educators in discerning between "uncontroversial" questions to which they can assume the correct answer is known and legitimately "controversial" questions requiring great care to be fair to the various points of view. (Author/DCS)

Drawing on research evidence from across the world, this book offers a wide-ranging perspective on the ways in which we understand and study young children. The book summarizes current debates in child development, and looks at different ways of understanding early childhood and the various methods used to gain understanding, featuring: (1)…

Excessive drinking creates countless personal disasters, including job losses, bankruptcies, suicides, divorces, crimes, lost friendships, and ruined family life. Nearly 1 in 10 adults meets criteria for chronic alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction, and 1 in 4 Americans feels the pain caused by alcohol problems. How can a democratic society safely…