This article explores the issue of ethical impact of conversation in the classroom, arguing that the experience of critical inquiry conducted through classroom dialog can cultivate precisely those ethical characteristics required of participants in the public life of a deliberative democracy. (SM)

Places the recent democratic Latvian elections in the context of that country's historic oppression by the Soviet Union, its resulting demographic character, and the emergence of pragmatic political parties. Analyzes the issues, parties, and coalitions that resulted in Grantis Ulmanis' recent victories. Prospects for continuing democracy appear…

Describes recent developments and resources in the rapidly growing field of human rights education. Explains the importance of teaching this subject with a global perspective. Includes a human rights lesson plan, student exercises, and a list of selected resources. (MJP)

This study explored judgments and reasoning of Chinese 13- to 18-year-olds regarding making decisions involving children in peer, family, and school contexts. Findings indicated that judgments and reasoning about decision-making varied by social context and by the decision under consideration. Evaluations of procedures became more differentiated…

Suggests that education leaders are currently faced with changing bases of social cohesion, changing instruments of economic control, and changing forms of organization. Democratic leaders are seen as those that enable the formulation of social, learning, and culturally responsive public educational institutions. (Contains 2 notes and 49…

Discusses several issues related to a modern approach in the interpretation of civil freedom and its relationship to the notion of family. First, presents some definitions and distinctions regarding the sociology of political freedom, which it suggests should become the sociology of citizenship. Then, applies those ideas to families, particularly…

Asserts that all of the major principles of political democracy are embedded in the tenets of multicultural education. Multicultural education facilitates the translation of principles of democratic living into practice for a society populated by people from many different ethnic, racial, cultural, and social backgrounds. (MJP)

Posits a skeptical critique of the early claims of increased and efficient citizen participation in government due to information technology. Recent experiments have been costly and only marginally successful. Further research suggests that advanced information technology will have little effect on voter apathy. (MJP)

Profiles a videoconference that brought together two seventh-grade classes in Connecticut. Over several days, white, middle-class, rural students discussed topical issues with urban black students. Topics raised included diversity, politics, gun control and local issues. Includes students' responses to the program. (MJP)

Argues that a democratic citizenry must be technologically literate and able to analyze data to make wise decisions. Illustrates how one Redmond, Washington, sixth grade social studies class used databases to show the changing nature of information and computer applications in social studies units. Stresses the relationship between information…

Contends that E. D. Hirsch's book, "Cultural Literacy," is not a work of scholarship but one of dogma and persuasion. Discusses Hirsch's views in relation to democratic values, the national culture, and both public and private education. Concludes that Hirsch wants to retain public education to impose a conservative ideology. (CFR)

Asserts that there has been growing interest in the last three decades in public education and its relationship to democracy. Discusses the development and importance of schools established by the Society of the Sacred Heart in frontier Saint Louis. Concludes that these schools pushed the limits of universal education. (ACM)

Urges a reframing of the social sciences curriculum in terms of the socioeconomic interests of the disadvantaged. Proposes a curriculum specifically designed to expose the ideological and political advantages enjoyed by the dominant culture. Includes specific activities to promote empowerment among the disadvantaged. (MJP)

Describes a high school citizenship class unit that contrasted Aristotle's concept of a public citizen with the actions of Meursault in Albert Camus's "The Stranger." Through writing assignments and class activities, the students connected their own ideas of citizenship, freedom, and conformity with Aristotelian and existentialist…

Presents a vision of multicultural education as a validating and inclusive process for non-European ways of knowing. Classifies multicultural education as inclusionary, emancipatory, liberatory, critical, and transformative. Briefly gives examples of each and identifies leading advocates of these approaches. (MJP)