An overview of the evolution of the innovative University of California, Santa Cruz, looks at its origins, campus organization, curriculum and instructional philosophy, campus design, leadership and faculty, student population, campus life, and curriculum design. Strategies for and obstacles to effective change are highlighted. (MSE)

Contends that the end of slavery, women's suffrage, and the civil rights movement were watershed events of social justice in U.S. history. Provides reviews of two media-based sets of instructional materials that can help students understand the struggle by disenfranchised groups to become full participants in society. (CFR)

Contends that children in the early childhood years do not compartmentalize knowledge and that the typical school curriculum presents artificial barriers to learning. Discusses the link between music and language acquisition and the significance of the home environment on music skill development. (CFR)

Ursuline College (Ohio), a Catholic women's college, has redesigned its core curriculum, using a sequential set of development goals to parallel the learning patterns beneficial for women. A support system to increase retention, satisfaction, and success is integrated into the curriculum. A holistic, inclusive college experience is the objective.…

A Canadian art teacher informally observes art education curricula and assessment methods in England, Wales, Scotland, and Holland; and compares these with North American and Canadian practices. Discusses issues concerned with art history, national curricula, and multicultural education. Suggests that systematic assessment of students' work and…

Outlines the use of concept maps as a tool for science curriculum development and discusses the changes that occur in the teacher's view of the curriculum with successive revisions of the maps. Describes and analyzes the maps created by sixth-grade teachers. (PR)

Reviews arguments surrounding the inclusion of computer literacy as part of core requirements for all undergraduates, considering the effect of the current postsecondary educational reform movement. Describes seven models for linking general education and computer science, and highlights American University's approach, which integrates computing…

Presents an interview with the founder and director of the Riley School in Maine in which she discusses the school's educational philosophy and practices, curriculum design, and physical plant design. (BB)

Surveys recent government reports addressing problems of teaching English to the school population of England. States responses to these reports have exposed scholarly community conflicts. Notes the present demand for a return to formal grammar and standard English moving away from the 1970s movement towards the linguistic/vocational model. (NL)

Asserts that, although there is widespread agreement that civic education is a worthy educational goal, there is little agreement about its content or appropriate instructional methods. Maintains that effective moral education must involve discussion of substantive civic-moral issues and consideration of moral alternatives. Recommends using the…

Maintains that achieving the social studies goal of helping children make good decisions about their world requires data interpretation. Includes activities and accompanying charts for classroom activities that combine social studies content and data interpretation and classification skills. (CFR)

Asserts that before civics/government teachers teach about the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, students should be introduced to the religious and philosophical background of religions freedom in the United States. Identifies issues and historical documents that provide the foundation. (CFR)

Maintains that all cultures celebrate holidays, but, in U.S. elementary schools, holidays generally are given superficial treatment. Suggests using holidays from other nations to begin studying the geography, history, and culture of those countries. Provides descriptions of seven teaching ideas based on this approach. (CFR)

Discusses the use of individual and group journals as a way to develop students' abilities to critically analyze reading materials in a college level sociology course. Describes the process by which the journals are written and evaluated. Contends that the learning strategy improved students' analytical abilities and writing skills. (CFR)

Describes a team teaching program for first-year French and Spanish courses at the Plattsburgh State University of New York. Goals were to (1) facilitate pedagogical cooperation between college foreign language and literature faculty and local middle and high school students; (2) improve articulation between secondary and postsecondary foreign…