UCLA has issued world history standards calling for less memorization and more historical thinking skills. The standards are neither rigid nor doctrinaire, but they have been criticized for promoting a national curriculum, stressing 20th-century events, downplaying traditional U.S. heroes, exhibiting an anti-Western bias, confusing suggestions…

The hourglass model approach to public policy issues in extension education includes (1) selection of mega-issues; (2) formation and reporting of study groups; (3) a symposium; (4) synthesis and revision of symposium and study group outcomes; and (5) extension/outreach to broader audiences. (SK)

Describes methods of approaching Toni Morrison's novel, "The Bluest Eye," for the secondary classroom. Suggests that it was the students' responses to the novel that showed to the teacher the importance of this controversial work. Provides numerous examples of students' written responses to the novel. (HB)

Provides four practicing teachers' written responses to Carolyn Henly's article entitled "Reader Response Theory as Antidote to Controversy: Teaching "The Bluest Eye," which appears in the same issue. (HB)

Discussed is the complexity of the issue concerning the use of live animals as subjects in laboratory tests. Included is a column written by Dr. Suzanne L. Epstein that discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of use of tissue culture to replace laboratory animals. (CW)

Discusses the issue of whether or not Mark Twain's novel, "Huckleberry Finn," should be taught. Reviews various arguments for and against teaching the novel. Concludes that the novel is worthy of being taught. (HB)

Presented are the highlights of a press conference featuring biomedical ethicist LeRoy Walters of Georgetown University and attorney Andrew Kimbrell of the Foundation on Economic Trends. The opposing points of view of these two speakers serve to outline the pros and cons of the gene therapy issue. (CW)

A model of essential actions influencing extension agents' participation in a program identified four primary motivating factors: (1) clarity of program participation; (2) availability of resources; (3) freedom of choice; and (4) relevance to job description or work plan. (SK)

Presents a classroom which teaches coalition building skills as a means of resolving controversy, based on finding common ground between disputants. (SR)

Thanks to certain "common ground" statements, the study of religion may gain a legitimate place in the curriculum and help stem an exodus from public schools. Textbooks have obliterated economics' religious connections. Ignoring religious perspectives about the world is profoundly illiberal, politically unjust, and unconstitutional.…

Combines a discussion of classroom uses for the children's book "My Two Uncles" with one on bibliotherapy with children. Explains that bibliotherapy provides information about confusing or sensitive topics through literature. Suggests that "My Two Uncles" can be used to reassure students who know homosexual couples and to encourage tolerance. (DSK)

Discusses two children's picture books: "Smoky Night" and "The House that Crack Built." Notes that the books deal with the Los Angeles riots and the use and distribution of crack cocaine. Concludes that each book treats important issues with sensitivity and honesty and is engaging, even when dealing with controversial topics in…

Discusses how religion and fiction can be a troublesome blend in literature for young people. Notes that many writers have found it simpler to avoid spiritual issues altogether, to stay with the safe and secular. Describes that one solution a number of writers have grasped is to portray protagonists as learning to seek the answers within…

Describes the controversy and eventual success of the use of "Heaven's Coast" by Mark Doty (an account of the author's mourning of the loss of his partner Wally to AIDS) as a common text for students at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. (EV)

Describes a strategy for a study of social problems in social studies classes that involves selecting brief excerpts from various literary genres that focus on a key social issue. Notes the students identify the problem, consider its implications, and offer solutions--then the students are encouraged to read the entire text to see how the problem…