Discusses the role of education and technology in light of social justice and democratic principles. Topics addressed include technology as a medium for discourse; equal access to information; simulations and virtual reality; social learning; school reform and technology; and critical theory and educational technology. (Contains 13 references.)…

A community consists of people bound together by a common thread, such as shared learning, ethnicity, a common national history, professional identity, or social/political agenda. To maintain equilibrium, a democratic community needs more than psychological theories, group dynamics, or simplistic cultural descriptors. All persons come to…

Discusses how President Clinton's view of citizenship is flawed, leading to his attempt to recast big-government programs, such as AmeriCorps, as instruments of individual and community empowerment. The debate over school lunch funding is offered as an example of Clinton's refusal to turn over power, responsibility, and resources to local control.…

American history teachers should teach their students that their "objective" textbook represents only a limited part of American culture. Readings presenting alternative perspectives can emancipate students from texts, help them understand the authors' worldviews, and increase their cultural literacy. Principals must cultivate an atmosphere that…

This article uses the work of three writers (D. Snauwaert, M. Apple, N. Warehime) to explore how cultural groups should be recognized in politics in democratic societies. Arguing that sustaining dialog is vital to addressing fundamental issues in a democracy, the paper explores education, values, the value and nature of democracy, democratic…

As a result of working on the educational problems in Russia, where more than 100 ethnic groups now control the schools, Stephen Heyneman explores the link between schooling and democratic values. Claims that one of America's greatest potential exports is its tradition of local democratic governance and that the United States could do more to…

Challenges traditional assumptions about the language arts curriculum. Suggests three alternative goals for language arts programs. Notes that these goals are designed to promote equity as espoused by the Jeffersonian ideal--teaching language and literacy in such a way that all people have an equal voice in a democracy. (RS)

Africentric ideas about leaders and leadership have remained part of the African Diaspora's cultural underpinnings over time. Slavery experiences predispose the African-American community to reject strong, natural leadership. This article and accompanying poem recount stories about the African-American experience and profile some true leaders.…

Presents examples of four board-superintendent relationships that have survived dynamic changes in school districts and communities. Key to success lies not in survival checklists but in basic principles of educational and democratic theory: rigorous search for truth, genuine understanding, mutual respect for divergent views, sincere commitment to…

The future of pluralistic democracies depends not only on laws but on individuals within the societies. Different cultures bring different strengths and conceptions of self and community. By studying different cultures and discovering shared virtues, students can identify those contributing to high quality of life for human society. (MSE)

Addresses the question of whether the personal essay is "democratic." Suggests three ways in which the personal essay can be integrated into a collaborative writing pedagogy. (RS)

Discusses tension between claims of the university intellectual elite and ordinary members (students and teachers) and explores ways in which the tension is developed and resolved, arguing that it is a necessary condition for supporting and maintaining democracy within the university. (SM)

In our modernized, changing, and dissatisfied society, values and ideologies have split into two extremes (nihilistic postmodernism and totalitarianism/fundamentalism) antagonistic to developing democratic life ways requiring rational discourse and agreement based on mutual respect. Aristotle tried to elaborate how to act well to achieve a good…

Teenagers enjoy being involved in community service; all we have to do is ask and provide the opportunity. The 101st Congress passed the National and Community Service Act of 1990, which will fund programs enabling students from kindergarten through college to serve their communities. A sidebar lists national resources for service-learning in…

By abdicating their authority and attempting to be value-neutral, teachers and textbooks have, in effect, become valueless. If the American democratic tradition is to survive beyond the end of this century, American educators must ensure that future generations of all races, religions, and cultural backgrounds respect and honor this country's…