Forcing the left-wing educational extremists' agenda upon innocent school children is unacceptable. Parents' legitimate curriculum complaints have been largely ignored. Christianity is the majority U.S. religion. Citizens for Excellence in Education boasts 1,350 chapters and 185,000 active parents. CEE's agenda is returning academic excellence,…

Sapon-Shevin's classroom scenarios featuring creative, inclusive adaptations for gifted students are unrealistic. Special programs for advanced learners are typically established because their needs are overlooked in regular classrooms. Teachers are more inclined to make adjustments for struggling learners than for advanced ones. By viewing gifted…

Assessment of 125 fourth graders in Japan found that 4 boys and 4 girls qualified as dyslexic, challenging the belief that dyslexia is largely absent among Japanese children. Japanese schoolchildren who decoded kana text slowly also performed poorly in digits reversed and other areas. Characteristics of these students are described. (Author/JDD)

Fascination with pedagogical technique has denigrated the intellectual life of K-12 educators and furthered the proliferation of "interdisciplinary" instructional approaches that blur important distinctions among disciplines. An atmosphere that values technique over substance tends to drive out or marginalize educators who enjoy reading and…

A study of textbook language dealing in depth with the concept of force is described. Textbooks and other historical materials from the 1840s to the present were examined. This provided a longitudinal framework in which to consider language usage. Student language was also investigated. (43 references) (KR)

A Toxicologist discusses common misconception that all chemicals are poisonous to people and the environment and how these misconceptions are perpetuated. Describes what makes a chemical toxic. Defines related concepts including dose, acute and chronic toxicity, and natural verses synthetic chemicals. (MCO)

Presents four misconceptions students have concerning the concepts of recessive and dominant alleles. Discusses the spectrum of dominant-recessive relationships, different levels of analysis between phenotype and genotype, possible causes of dominance, and an example involving wrinkled peas. (MDH)

Explores the public's misconception about lotteries' intended purpose and actual use. To avoid attacks on its legitimacy (and bloated bureaucratic structure), government is relying on lotteries as policy tools. Generating public funds through lotteries appears to meet education's needs while masking the relative drop in tax-based public finance.…

Discussions with 27 focus groups of third to sixth graders revealed a high level of AIDS awareness and correct knowledge about transmission and prevention. Many had difficulty explaining causation and overestimated numbers of children possibly affected. Misconceptions were more prevalent in lower grades. (SK)

Describes a test using 155 third-year undergraduates in 15 different institutions to examine the extent to which certain core first-year material is retained and understood. Includes an analysis of the answers given by students to each question as well as some of their comments. Students' misconceptions indicate that foundations laid in the first…

Reports that many students do not believe Newton's law of action and reaction and suggests ways in which its plausibility might be enhanced. Reviews how this law has been made more plausible over time by Newton and those who succeeded him. Contains 25 references. (DDR)

This issue is a collection of scholarship on school as community--a subject with prolific writings, but a sparse research base. Not another educational fad, community should be disentangled from the instrumental values (improving measurable student outcomes) that pervade education policy. In-depth field studies are needed. (MLH)

Investigates students' ideas, conceptions, and misconceptions about acids and alkalis before and after a teaching sequence in a small-scale research project. Concludes that student understanding of acids and alkalis is lacking. (DDR)

Major issues surrounding women in management include the glass ceiling and prevalence of myths and stereotypes. Organizational and individual responses to improve use of the diversity of their skills and talents include mentors, sponsors, role models, networks, alternative schedules, family leave, employee assistance, and child care. (JOW)

Highlights the influence of Confucianism on Chinese thinking, learning style, and cultural values and the impact upon classroom behaviors. Corrects misconceptions Western teachers may have about the meaning of these behaviors. (SK)