Examines the history of German language instruction in American elementary schools (focusing on four midwestern school districts) in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Highlights past administrative and political developments and issues that remain of concern for bilingual education programs today. (Author/MJL)

Compares the state governance and power structures in early child education in Michigan, California, and New York. Focuses on the informal, dynamic networks of power and influence among public and private agencies and, in turn, between these agencies and clients attached to a variety of interest groups. (Author/GC)

Explores the legacies of desegregation in cities that have a predominantly black municipal leadership. Focuses on policies in the District of Columbia and discovers a pattern relevant to similar cities. That pattern includes a tendency to isolate education issues from other municipal concerns and a reluctance to involve the courts. (MJP)

Briefly describes several approaches to multicultural education including highlighting minority achievements and emphasizing human relations and social reconstruction. Argues that social reconstruction is the most productive approach for teaching urban geography. Social reconstruction examines the creation and perpetuation of inequality through…

Although Bill Clinton and Bob Dole agree that schools should make greater use of computers and the Internet, they differ on many technology issues. Clinton supports an active federal presence in technological advancement, while Dole would eliminate four cabinet-level departments and trim research funding. Online sources of news and facts about…

Examines the origin and current meaning of the labels, ESL (English as a Second Language) and EFL (English as a foreign language). Places these acronyms in historical context, evaluates their current credibility, distinguishes three contexts commonly referred to as ESL environments and proposes a new nomenclature that better captures the role of…

Examines the dynamic and growing use of oral history in documenting the various social and political movements of the 1960s. Discusses those historical analyses and approaches particularly well served by oral history. Notes a decline in oral history in some areas due to logistical and funding difficulties. (MJP)

Traces the history of the Bill of Rights. Delineates the early arguments proposed for and against the Bill of Rights. Discusses the recent Ronald Reagan-Edwin Meese attack on the applicability of the Bill of Rights. Identifies seven items that every student should know about the Bill of Rights. (RW)

Discusses a course on U.S. Congress in which students analyze Congress as an institution, the role of Congress in the political system, and Congressional members. Emphasizes the role Congress should play in the Madisonian policy process. Examines the history of Congress, budgetary politics, foreign policy, and congressional reforms. Includes…

Analyzes Eduard Spranger's resignation from the University of Berlin in 1933. Examines the impact of press treatment of Spranger's decision to reveal the difficult nature of political action under totalitarian systems. Uses this case to discuss how judgment often precedes complete knowledge of events. (CH)

Discusses relationship of language conflict and political conflict. Uses a case study of the attempt to establish a bilingual secondary school in Wales to illustrate various conflicts that arise over the implementation of policy already agreed upon in principle. Concludes that developments and conflict related to bilingualism are locally specific.…

Presents an analysis and personal reflections on social and political changes in Russia between 1970 and 1994. Discusses how the social and economic changes have had a profound impact on elderly Russians. Concludes that the changes in Russia are a microcosm of those taking place throughout the world. (CFR)

Reviews educational reform efforts in Israel. Identifies mechanisms that constrain reform in a centralized educational system. Contends that successful reform implementation requires responding to client needs and efforts to unite both political interest groups in support of reform policies. (CFR)

Views the use of private vendors as a way of cost reduction and efficiency improvement. It argues that contracting out for services reduces administrator overload, provides better technical expertise and economies of scale, and reduces supervisory work. Privatization also brings political implications involving employee job loss and service…

Reports on a study of the political attitudes and views toward elections among 140 Nigerian secondary students. Argues that, if schools are to play a significant role in Nigeria, it is essential for social studies educators to try to improve the current orientation of students toward elections. (CFR)