Suggests that, when real issues and problems are used as themes, student motivation and interest are significantly enhanced. Recommends using issue orientation to empower students to become problem solvers. Provides examples of projects used successfully in middle schools on the issue of smokers' versus nonsmokers' rights. (NL)

Neutrality is of questionable relevance in teaching social issues related to racial or sex discrimination. Because these essentially moral issues are relevant to everyone, a teacher should be committed to fundamental values of justice, fairness, and respect for others. Teaching methods include development of cognitive and affective qualities and…

Describes programs sponsored by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) to promote civic participation. The programs are National Issues Forums (NIF) in the Classroom; Jefferson Meetings; Great Decisions; Public Issues Series; and C-SPAN in the Classroom. (SLM)

Presents dimensions of the drug issue through four lesson strategies for middle and secondary students. "Planning to Solve a School Drug Problem" focuses upon school responsibility. "Assessing Public Opinion: Views You Can Use" introduces surveys. "Conduct and Actions" simulates a drug possession case. "Case Study: Parents, Drugs, and Neglect"…

Describes the dramatization of Katherine Anne Porter's story,"The Fig Tree's Lessons." Discusses the process by which this story was made accessible to an audience of 8- to 12-year-old children. Notes that this program attempts to avoid the simplification of the profound human experience of dealing with death. (KO)

Special education teachers (n=407) were surveyed regarding coverage of 45 controversial or sensitive topics in their instruction of students with learning disabilities, mental retardation, or behavior disorders. Topical issues were addressed only to a very limited extent, but were addressed more with students having behavioral disorders and at the…

Proposes a method for teaching about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by using poetry written about the disease. Identifies specific anthologies as resources and reviews the literature. Says poetry addresses AIDS-inspired fears and helps reshape negative attitudes and homophobia. Suggests that it also enhances prevention-oriented public…

Suggests a need to change traditional content sources of population education to include population-related concepts in the area of human sexuality. Identifies the following focuses: respecting others, developing self-esteem, postponing the first pregnancy, understanding that it is possible to plan, fostering responsibility for behavior and…

Points out that future citizens can learn from the lessons of war. Notes that selecting material for teaching controversial issues provides dilemmas. Describes structure, history, and content of a class on the Vietnam War. Includes course syllabus and describes use of multimedia and the inclusion of returned veterans as an expanded resources…

The senior author of a textbook presenting U.S. and Canadian history in a comparative framework criticizes U.S. history textbooks for their interpretations of Native Americans and for their mystifying tendencies. Explains how "Canada: A North American Nation" presents a more detached perspective and offers a second opinion on some of the…

Discusses the benefits of marking sexual identities (as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual) in the classroom, exposing students' hetero-normativity, and alerting them to ways in which seemingly "personal" lives are shaped by the political. Relates the authors' classroom experiences in trying to illustrate the socially-constructed aspects of…

This activity allows students to explore the gray areas that lie between polar opposites on an issue. Recognizes the knowledge, opinions, and values supporting various positions that emerge as current positions and discusses the reasons for choosing them. Learning to be flexible and open is the goal of this activity. (PVD)

A study of 304 social work faculty examined faculty sensitivity and responses to critical classroom incidents related to race. African Americans, women, assistant professors, and faculty experienced in teaching diversity courses showed more sensitivity to racism than other ethnic groups, men, full professors, and faculty who had never taught…

Believes that all students should focus on the interpretation of documents in the secondary history curriculum. Describes a unit where students learn to interpret the events of the "battle" of Fort Pillow (Tennessee) that was the most controversial engagement of the Civil War. Provides background information on the battle of Fort Pillow. (CMK)

The paper presents findings from a research project undertaken at the Taman Rama Gandhi School in Bali during the first anniversary week of the Bali Bombings in 2003. It explores the school's response to four key components of Gandhi's model of Basic Education ("Nai Talim") and shows that the claimed curriculum is framed by two…