Maintains that the world is nearing the end of a great age of democratic revolutions. Asserts that civic or citizenship education is in danger of being sidetracked by the national educational reform movement. Argues that "CIVITAS," a civic education curriculum framework, provides a model for effective citizenship education. (CFR)

Asserts that K-12 schools and colleges have made strong efforts to diversify faculty and student bodies and to expand multicultural and global education. Examines the political and social values that underlie the debate about social values, multiculturalism, and the goals of education. Concludes that world studies explores a wider world than a…

Explores student and youth organizing and campus activism. Two major issues in current and future campus organizing are reproductive choice and national service plans as proposed by the Clinton Administration. Campus organizing can instill the principles of empowerment in the activists who will be the leaders of tomorrow. (SLD)

In Michigan, highly politicized school-finance reforms and the charter-school and school-choice movements present enormous challenges for school business officials. There is greater demand for administrator accountability and credibility, an open environment, effective communication skills, efficient use of data, long-term vision,…

Argues that the City University of New York's recent reversal of its policy of providing remedial instruction to those needing it was accomplished despite substantial opposition and without regard for the human or financial consequences, with little understanding of academic freedom, and under the influence of conservative policymakers wishing to…

Reviews current court cases pertaining to infringements on academic freedom and considers their relationship to arguments concerning tenure. In particular, raises such issues as how the First Amendment protects the academic freedom of faculty and if there are alternative safeguards. Concludes that eliminating tenure would jeopardize academic…

School choice is a promising education reform in the U.S., transferring power over basic education decisions from bureaucrats to parents and allowing poor children a chance to receive excellent education. This paper describes three categories of choice, examines the Constitution and Supreme Court, explains how to design a legally sound school…

Two studies investigated the involuntary turnover of small-town school superintendents. The studies involved interviewing county superintendents and examining state financial records from Illinois. Results indicated that it was personal and political conflicts that most often dictated the high superintendent turnover (both voluntary and…

Shows that, despite the pendulum swings from the 1930s to the present, reading-achievement levels have remained constant, and one-third of children do not learn to read well. Argues that reading is a multidimensional activity, and that a massive effort is needed to implement multidimensional curricula that empower all children by providing them…

A study of leading state-level policy actors in Florida's higher education identified a hierarchy of power and influence. Policy elites were legislators and key legislative staff consultants, the university system chancellor, and the state board of regents. Least influential in policy formation were faculty and student interest groups and…

Examines the victory of California's Proposition 227, which mandated English-only instruction, and two viewpoints that reflect conflicting analyses of why Proposition 227 passed. To influence future decision making, bilingual-education advocates must learn to participate more effectively in policy debate without distorting research or denouncing…

Using ethnographic and autobiographical accounts of segregated black schools, examines culturally relevant teaching as a political pedagogy, developing the concept of politically relevant teaching rooted in utilizing knowledge of social inequalities to empower marginalized students, and noting the importance of the political clarity of teachers…

Describes how one professor of American government fights the apathy and cynicism of college students toward politics by using the Internet to help students more fairly appraise the workings of the American political system. One assignment has students research and manage a particular public policy initiative through visits to Web sites…

Charts the rebirth of civics and citizenship education in Australia. Discusses the decline of interest in citizenship education during the 1960s and the educational and social influences leading to its renaissance. Examines the educational model proposed by the Civics Expert Group and extends this treatment to include more egalitarian concepts.…

Identifies and discusses recent decisions and upcoming cases of the Supreme Court that are likely to be of interest to teachers. Educational issues addressed include Internet access and censorship, affirmative action, sexual harassment, drug testing, and the separation of church and state. Includes a brief description Supreme Court duties. (MJP)