A former faculty member at the University of California, Davis, discusses the rise of Native American activism after World War II, student and urban Indian organizing that led to the occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969, the beginnings of D-Q University in a student occupation shortly thereafter, and the island itself as enduring symbol of Native…

With nearly 1 in 11 of first-year college students reporting a disability, colleges are responding in different ways, from policies to architecture. Activists for the disabled say the first serious efforts date to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Educators see high cost and educational issues as barriers to compliance. The law is not…

Presents a historical perspective of the inception and development of an environmental group, Earth First. This account includes literary influences, leadership, goal development, philosophy, trends, and the organization's relationship to other environmental groups. (MCO)

Describes the Amnesty International USA's Urgent Action letter writing program for schoolchildren. Discusses monthly cases, preparation material for parents and teachers, opportunities for classroom discussion, and a sample letter. Suggests that the program can be an action component in social studies, civics, religion, ethics, and English…

Excerpts are presented from a recent papal encyclical that sets forth John Paul II's views on timeless moral truths and on dissent from them within the Roman Catholic Church. The responsibility of bishops to monitor Catholic institutions, including educational institutions, is noted. (MSE)

Examines racial inequity in the siting of waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Discusses flaws in several studies that attempt to explain waste facility siting disparities. (LZ)

Provides an overview of this theme issue, "Computers for Social Change and Community Organizing." Issues of concern to community organizers, human services professionals, and political activists are discussed, including the use of computer technology to meet human needs and to promote public access to information. (LRW)

Describes women's studies as the academic outgrowth of the women's movement. Assesses the influence of feminism on educational structures and on theory and practice in education and psychology. Considers the role of feminist scholarship in the construction of knowledge, and the implications of the ideas explored by feminist scholars. (DMM)

Discusses narratives of the subaltern, their intersection with academic discourse, and their significance for minority scholars and educators. Draws on background related to U.S. invasion of Mexican territory, Proposition 187, and the author's familial and professional experiences as a Mexican American to demonstrate the importance of locating…

Loyal Jones talks about his role in the Council of the Southern Mountains, the controversy that led to its demise, founding the Appalachian Center at Berea College (Kentucky), and elitist attitudes of liberal arts colleges that hinder sincere efforts to help Appalachian people. He discusses humor as a way of simultaneously putting people on and…

Investigates the reasons why teachers in Scotland engage in voluntary activities outside their professional world and the consequences that activism has on their professionalism. Finds that teachers were active in diverse organizations and reports that activism contributed to improving their professionalism. Discusses the influences on the…

Building social capital for poor children is an important endeavor. Disadvantaged children generally lack a network that allows them to thrive in school and achieve a sense of belonging. Schools in impoverished neighborhoods can strengthen ties to students by building links to the community, becoming full-service community schools, and joining…

Service learning benefits students of all academic abilities, particularly the gifted. Teachers should use the principles of good service, make service a requirement, encourage service experiences based on real needs, design interdisciplinary service courses, consider opportunities for social change, provide mentorships, reduce liability, and help…

The New Christian Right is hardly a new force in American education, but its recent activism leaves unresolved the question of whether it seeks to transform America in its own image or merely to protect its own position and respect for its special values. Implications for educational policy are considered. (SLD)

Discusses disadvantages of standardized testing, particularly those associated with testing young children, and the problems they create for classroom teachers. Offers suggestions for coping with standardized testing in the curriculum and encourages educators to organize and take action in an effort to change educational policy. Outlines 14 ways…