Examines the institutional power of Texas's state textbook selection committee. Studies the relationship between selection of educational content and social and professional interests. Finds that centralized adoption provides citizens and interest groups input, but that technical and pragmatic priorities tend to dominate selection decisions. (NL)

Generates questions which invite the reader to consider the people, places, and activities in their own classrooms that turn kids on or off to books. Provides some ideas and impressions from observations and conversations with children. Offers a nine-item annotated bibliography for teachers interested in reading further about this topic. (MG)

Reports a survey that indicates approximately half of U.S. political science departments offer an introductory course in urban politics and that enrollments have remained steady, although the course's popularity has declined since the 1970s. Discusses textbooks used and course objectives, revealing a shift from a reformist orientation to…

Asserts that, even with the expansion of new electronic media and educational technology, books still represent the widest range of possibilities for providing multiple perspectives on the human experience. Provides a list of 20 books reviewed and recommended in the article. (CFR)

The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is evaluated using a unified view of test validity that requires that validity be considered from an approach requiring many sources of corroboration. A review of available literature suggests insufficient evidence to support the tenets and claims about the utility of the MBTI. (SLD)

Asserts art educators must increase public relations efforts to ensure parents and community understand importance of art education in the general curriculum. Describes a school community relations campaign for an elementary art education program. Includes suggestions for identifying goals for the campaign, meeting the interests of the audience,…

Surveys 278 school board presidents about processes and procedures in their most recent searches for superintendents. Boards that hired female superintendents were more likely to head urban and suburban systems, to be better educated, to be of a higher social class, and to have a female majority. (SLD)

Asserts that oral history and children's literature are effective strategies for making history relevant to elementary students. Includes a figure illustrating the webbing approach and 37 recommended children's books. (CFR)

Reports on a review of nine elementary social studies textbooks for their treatment of African-American history and culture. Finds that the West African origins and culture of African Americans is largely ignored. Determines that textbooks present a biased and incomplete picture of slavery in early U.S. history. (CFR)

Explores the academic status model for university librarians that is recommended in guidelines laid out by national organizations in Canada, focusing on terms and conditions of employment in a representative sample of collective agreements. Examines inclusion of librarians in agreements, appointments, performance evaluation and criteria,…

Presents a review of the literature indicating the benefits of affirmative action and why it is necessary, as well as the results of a study to identify exemplary programs that are successful due to affirmative actions. Suggests that student affairs professionals should support affirmative action and its programs. (Author/MKA)

Explains how the relationship between school library collection development, curriculum development, and information problem solving can be improved by applying the Big6 Skills process to the selection of materials and teacher collaboration. Includes charts for cooperative planning that follow the Big6 Skills. (Contains 3 references.) (LRW)

Discussion of library purchasing decisions regarding serials focuses on efforts at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to compile numerous measures into a comprehensive database for decision support. Discusses a faculty survey of serials needs and future implications. (Author/LRW)

Focuses on the selection and decision-making aspects of the Edelmen model of collection development. Reviews challenges facing library/information studies education and the place of collection development within that context. Considers implications for the library/information center of the rise of a new class of resources. Suggests that a more…

Discusses six books (published in 1997 or 1998) for educators that deal with teaching young adolescents and teaching with literature. (SR)