Presents a lesson plan that teaches students skills in developing oral arguments, understanding legal concepts involved in the practice of international law, and appreciating opposing points of view. Students prepare mini-memorials (similar to a legal brief) concerning a South Pacific case involving nuclear testing and territorial rights. (MJP)

Presents a lesson plan requiring students to investigate problems related to the use of land mines and their impact on civilian populations. Activities include student pairs navigating a simulated mine field on graph paper and mock delegates creating proposals on this issue. Student handouts contain background information. (MJP)

Asserts that, although minority groups have made progress in educational attainment, they still face barriers to higher education. Reviews statistical data from two national studies. Finds that, once background characteristics are held constant, minority parents make as much, if not more, effort to save money and support their children as do white…

Maintains that civic competence and socially responsible behavior have been among the 10 developmental tasks of adolescence since the 1950s. Contends that the decline of interest in political socialization must be shared by both political science and developmental psychology. Discusses community service as a measure of civic competence. (CFR)

Examines the question of how, and if, kibbutz social values are transmitted through kibbutz studies curricula. Determined that the accepted attitude of instructors (neutral and objective) was at odds with the inherent socialization of the kibbutz's mission. Includes a brief history of kibbutz development. (MJP)

Offers suggestions for teaching constitutional issues and the Bill of Rights. Observes that student achievement and response is significant when core content, primary documents, and case studies are employed. Describes procedures for class discussions and recommends U.S. Supreme Court landmark cases for freedom of the press and speech issues. (NL)

Recommends ways to implement citizenship education in elementary school social studies lessons and classroom procedures. Emphasizes teachers' influence as role models. Identifies conceptual, process, and affective citizenship education goals. Suggests classroom activities and events for developing students' decision-making skills, awareness of…

Describes a school-university collaboration that developed alternative teaching strategies for motivating inner-city, African-American middle school students (effort-based grading, multiple performance opportunities, increased student responsibility/choice, and validation of cultural differences). Observations, teacher journals, and student…

Educators' fear of statistics stems from various factors, including deficiencies in their preparation programs: insufficient relevance, inadequately integrated technologies, and stress on inferential statistics. Attendance statistics are worthless unless principals and superintendents can interpret them and incorporate them into their…

The provision of a coherent "parenting," "teaching," and "developmental" program is a complex undertaking. It has all the makings of an organizational, managerial, and therapeutic nightmare when different types of workers, with marked differences in personality and values, become responsible for different children with a variety of problems in a…

Collective teacher efficacy refers to teacher perceptions that they constitute an effective instructional team, capable of bringing about learning in students. Previous research demonstrates that a school staff with a strong sense of collective efficacy is likely to generate high student achievement. This study of 2,170 teachers in 141 elementary…

Predominately White institutions of higher education have focused a considerable amount of attention on the underrepresentation of African American and other ethnically diverse students in colleges and universities. To address this problem, colleges and universities have focused not just on recruitment but also on the retention of African American…

Educators often ignore the political requirements of urban reform in their focus on the research and models that guide it. Conversely, political scientists frequently miss the differences among reforms in their focus on coalitions and resources. Integrating Clarence N. Stone's concept of "civic capacity" with an educator's view of reform…

This presidential executive order was issued to: (1) ensure that tribal colleges and universities are more fully recognized as accredited institutions of higher education, have access to opportunities afforded other such institutions, and have federal resources committed on a continuing basis; (2) establish a mechanism to increase accessibility of…

This book presents information on parent and family conferencing skills to assist classroom teachers in becoming involved in helping parents and families contend with the various issues they routinely confront when raising and living with a child with a disability. Part 1, "The Family of the Child with an Exceptionality," discusses the impact of…