Universities are indispensable for a free and prosperous society. Their mission depends on a campus culture of free expression and intellectual diversity. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) seeks to hold American colleges and universities accountable to their missions. ACTA now provides a blueprint to help higher education regain…

After her school wins the coveted United States National Secondary Education Award, a school principal embarks upon an educational odyssey. The principal discovers that the reasons for winning the award are a sham! As her school falls apart, she begins to reflect on the stagnant school organization and the ineffective prescriptions for…

Project WILD's new high school curriculum, "Science and Civics: Sustaining Wildlife", is designed to serve as a guide for involving students in environmental action projects aimed at benefitting the local wildlife found in a community. It involves young people in decisions affecting people, wildlife, and their shared habitat in the community. The…

"No student left out" should be the motto of the entire student movement. It can be understood in many different ways. No student should indeed be left out of higher education, both in terms of access and progress towards completion in higher education but also in terms of representation in governance structures at all levels. Leaving no…

Ten years have passed since New York's highest court ruled in the landmark school-funding and educational-rights case, "Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) v. State of New York," that the state was violating students' constitutional right to the "opportunity for a sound basic education" and ordered significant reforms of the…

Explores the concept of democracy and considers how different "democracies" demand different actions from educators in relation to schooling and society at large. Offers modest starting points for participating in democratic action. (RS)

Learning democratic principles is an important component of education. Ways in which to equip students with the necessary complex knowledge and skills for full participation in a democracy are explored in this report. The text focuses on the distinction between education for democracy and education as democracy, and it explores ways that the…

Representative democracy relies on the informed trust of the citizens. School board members serve their communities at a crucial place, governing large sums of money and the future of the community's children. Without the informed trust of the citizens, this enterprise will fail. Trust may be lost directly, or through inattention to detail. One of…

Describes a holistic approach and an interdisciplinary curriculum in enhancing critical thinking and education for democracy at the junior-high and high-school levels implemented in Haifa and its vicinity in Israel. Concludes that the general consensus of the parents and teachers was that this method is a positive aid and tool in transferring…

This collection of essays is based on the materials of the international conferences, seminars, and readings arranged between 1994-96 by the Lithuanian College of Democracy. The collection presents both the European and North American experience. Evaluation of democratic education, tolerance, alternative education, and citizenship education in…

Describes how English department chairs might successfully order and structure their departments. Analyzes two central characteristics of English departments as political entities: purpose and values. Lists several observations about departmental organization. (HB)

This manual traces the emergence of democracy in Albania from the end of the Communist system in 1990. It deals with the concepts and practices of democratic citizenship education and emphasizes the role of education in developing and sustaining democracy. The manual is to assist educators to put together the knowledge and skills they possess with…

This learning packet is divided into two parts with eleven chapters. Part 1 provides background information retracing Alexis de Tocqueville's 1831-32 tour of North America which led to the publication of "Democracy in America." Part 2 contains a short description of the seven primary themes emphasized by de Tocqueville with issues more…

Explores the concept of "democracy" and what it means in a multicultural society. Outlines several assumptions of critical literacy and suggests that it is important in realizing a strong democracy. Shows how the Saving Black Mountain project exemplifies critical literacy in action. Notes that students learned that their spoken and…

This report describes the Eisenhower Leadership Program, an approach to leadership learning that aims to educate students for democracy. Based on the premise that democracy at risk threatens the fabric of the national culture, the document presents five key elements considered essential for educating students to become democratic leaders. These…