This reviewer feels that the CBS television special "Is Anyone Out There Learning?" overemphasized problems and offered few useful solutions. All articles in this journal issue comment on this CBS News program, aired in August, 1978. (SJL)

While advocating one theory, based on developing critical abilities, which he feels best rationalizes the total literary experience, the author argues that almost any rationale would be preferable to the current absence of a rationale for college literature curriculum--better both for the students and for the discipline. (Author/SJL)

Examines the contributions of Jacques Ellul to the area of communication research through his principle of "la technique," which offers a primary focus for theoretical considerations of modern communications media and their role in human society. (JMF)

A discussion of the life and work of Yaqui poet Refugio Savala includes analysis of selected poems, "corridos," and original and traditional tales. The article includes a discussion of the style, content, tone, and background of his English language autobiography and explains the editing which occurred prior to its publication. (SB)

Defends the combination of literature and writing instruction, offering a special course at the University of South Carolina as an example of the way intensive work in composition can be combined with an old-fashioned literary survey. (RL)

Tells benefits of approaching the study of literature through a study of folk tale variants; suggests a plan for helping children analyze and compare folk tale variants. Includes a model of a discussion based on three versions of "Jack and the Beanstalk," and lists and annotates variant editions of nine familiar folk tales. (ET)

Different theories of moral development are explored, along with the role this development plays in the selection of teaching materials and activities for the English class. (HTH)

Discusses problems with reviews and criticisms of popular social science books: the quality and background of reviewers, the difficulty of distinguishing between fact and opinion, and the scarcity of competent reviewers. Analyzes reviews of Robert Ardrey's "African Genesis" and "The Territorial Imperative," Konrad Lorenz's "On Aggression," and…

Briefly describes how students use their prior knowledge of conventions in making inferences about literature. Outlines some techniques that could be employed in conducting descriptive research studies to determine what students do or do not know and how that difference affects their response to literature. (RL)

Analysis of several accounts of White Buffalo Calf Woman's appearance among the Lakotas and of her politically interesting teachings illustrates how aboriginal Indian government rests upon myths of the god(s) which symbolically insert the people into the larger cosmic order, thus establishing the pattern of cosmic governance. (SB)

Proposes the application of Norman Holland's views on transactional literary analysis to the teaching of basic writing, raising student awareness of reader and writer roles through frequent writing activities and reader feedback. (RL)

Considers how literature and the modern media influence the quality of children's language development. Provides samples of student responses and student writings, showing how they react to literature and learn from it. (RL)

Discusses Barbara Jordan's keynote address at the 1976 Democratic National Convention which succeeded in pleasing the immediate audience of partisans while not offending the general audience. The success is attributed to Jordan's ability to appeal to two seemingly contradictory sets of values. (JMF)

Surveys major learning theories and their application to teaching, concluding that lecturing does not require students to conceptualize in the way open discussion does. Outlines literature teaching goals that are clarified by a cognitive perspective. (MKM)

Presents an analysis, used in a course on modern French literature and society, of Michel Tournier's novel "Le Roi des Aulnes." The analysis attempts to highlight the various levels of symbolism and the relationship between literature and history as found in the novel. (AM)