Argues that the current presentations of "nationalism" in the Alberta social studies curriculum are archaic and irrelevant. Proposes a more inclusive and critical definition of nationalism and provides some supporting references. Includes four student assignments illustrating and teaching this revised approach to nationalism. (MJP)

Uses the example of New York State to illustrate how the rancorous political debate over education can render national standards irrelevant and contradictory. In appeasing so many factions the standards become inclusive to the point of obfuscation. Provides a brief overview of the controversy concerning national standards. (MJP)

Contends that it is increasingly clear that schools must prepare students to be able to adapt to a changing world. Asserts that multicultural education is an intellectual concept that should focus on significant social issues. Maintains that effective multicultural education requires conceptual teaching methods. (CFR)

One of the most important and difficult challenges facing social studies educators, particularly world history teachers, concerns the role of Islam--one of the world's fastest growing and most dynamic religions--in historical and contemporary domestic and international affairs. What teachers choose to teach about Islam and how they present it are…

Integration of environmental education and second language instruction is discussed, with two purposes: to describe educators' efforts to protect the planet's deteriorating environment, and to explore what destructive attitudes and actions that have led to environmental devastation have their counterparts in language education methods. The…

The paper examines the controversy over the use of Harold Rugg's textbooks in the social studies curriculum during the 1930s and 40s. The first section discusses the philosophy of social reconstruction maintaining that teachers and students should be in the forefront of social change. Rugg's major contribution to social reconstruction was a…

Described is the course content for a class on AIDS. The class focused on outreach, education, information and learning compassion toward people afflicted with the disease. A list of videos and films used in the course is included. (KR)

Observes that, although textbook reform in occupied Japan originally supported democratic principles of openness and competition, it later became a mechanism for anticommunist censorship. Maintains that interpretations of Japan's military conduct remain highly politicized and controversial. (MJP)

Reviews approaches to teaching values in elementary schools. Describes a model consistent with the core values of the United States. Recommends an elementary curriculum resting on three cornerstones: (1) caring, (2) citizenship, and (3) conscience. Points out that controversial issues must be discussed openly within such a curriculum. (CFR)

Suggests that a social action position is needed to effect desirable changes in theory and practice of art education. Compares five goals of multicultural education with three feminist approaches to art teaching. Discusses how art teaching should incorporate theories about feminist aesthetics, social change, and women's art history. (KM)

As part of her Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education course, Verushka Taylor was asked to imagine how issues the Social Contexts of Secondary Education class was reading about and discussing impact upon the work of teachers. To that end, students were asked to think deeply about one of the topics addressed in the semester, and to frame a…

This guide is intended to help home economics teachers develop an issues-based curriculum using the home- and life-management content. The guide is intended to help teachers identify issues, teach process skills, and then apply those process skills to issues (content). The guide consists of five sections. Within each section, short discussions…

An emerging focus on pre-college education in the 1980s is the interaction of science and technology in terms of their combined interrelationships with society. The characterizations of the science/technology/society (S/T/S) theme, as advanced by science educators, social studies educators, and environmental educators, exhibit similarities. It is…

Educators from over 30 countries judged the suitability of incidents in moral education in the context of their native environment. Participants were 54 secondary school principals or teachers, most of whom were graduate students or married to graduate students at the University of California, Santa Barbara. They were given descriptions of 23…

Analyzes data from a questionnaire addressing preservice elementary teachers' negative attitudes toward social studies. Identifies and discusses six categories of concern: negative past experiences; lack of personal interest; confusion over the nature of social studies; conflicting beliefs; topic selection; and traditional teaching styles. (MJP)