Criticizes the University of Toronto for its links to businesses deemed unsavory by the author. Places these academic-corporate links within a general framework of integration between Canada's leading educational and business institutions. Questions an educational system that appears to the author to have wealth generation as its highest goal.…

Argues that understanding, in history or other domains, entails being able to use mental representations in order to engage in culturally meaningful performances such as creating products, solving problems, or building explanations. Examines challenges and possibilities for a performance-based view of understanding through the analysis of examples…

Argues that social studies in Saudi Arabia has gone through three periods since the 1920s. Reviews the first two periods as an introduction to contemporary developments. Notes the goals of social studies in Saudi Arabia. Reviews the results of a series of studies on the social studies curriculum and instruction. (DSK)

Reviews the implementation and early successes and failures of multicultural education in Canada. Although multicultural education was officially adopted as an educational policy in 1971, it has been reworked and revamped as problems and challenges have arisen. Discusses those incidents that necessitated structural changes in the policy. (MJP)

Challenges citizenship educators to be more cognizant of the social and communitarian aspects of democratic citizenship. Explores engagement with children's literature and development of a classroom creed as two ways to actively engage children in citizenship roles. Includes an interview with a participating teacher. (MJP)

Identifies "dummy runs" as those educational approaches and exercises that are unrelated to any real-life experience or goal. For example, writing a model business letter to a fictitious business. Maintains that social studies educators should avoid this approach and emphasize "real world" relevance and citizenship education. (MJP)

Explicates a rationale for, and several approaches to, teaching about the Holocaust. Some insights to be gained include the value and necessity of democratic institutions; understanding the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping; and the responsibilities of individuals and organizations when faced with abuses of power. (MJP)

Describes the efforts of one elementary art class to move beyond the limits of formalism when examining and discussing art. Guided by the teacher, the class attempted a critical deconstruction of the work of Edgar Degas focusing on his depiction of working class women. Includes three reproductions of Degas works. (MJP)

Delineates some of the general objectives and goals of citizenship-education programs being proposed throughout Canada. These offer an ongoing dynamic program of education in history, government, and ethics, with the aim of instilling in youth a willingness to think about the problems facing our society. (MJP)

Reports on a 1996 Ministry of Education study on the teaching of history in Quebec. Criticizes the study for perpetuating leftist biases in favor of multiculturalism and globalization while censuring the study of Western civilization as evidence of Eurocentrism. Discusses the implications of, and reactions to, the government report. (MJP)

Observes that decisions to cut bureaucratic waste in Canada's educational system rests with the bureaucracy itself. Maintains that most schools could productively institute a limited form of teacher-oriented self-administration, thereby reducing and streamlining educational administration. Argues that most educational administration is…

Articulates a generalized vision of school reform focusing on student empowerment and learner-controlled instruction. Recommends treating students with respect and dignity as well as encouraging personal development and self-discipline. Envisions a school where individual development is more important than rote learning and arbitrary rules. (MJP)

Advocates a broader and more flexible conceptualization of the Canadian social studies curriculum, emphasizing thematic and interdisciplinary approaches rather than chronology and topics. Praises the reflective inquiry teaching model that adopts a learner-centered approach. Compares social studies to other curricula in an attempt to discover a new…

Considers educational and philosophical responses to social and economic change. Offers an insightful review of four major educational philosophies that have emerged from within the North American teaching tradition: perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, and reconstructivism. (MJP)

Discusses the design, implementation, and rationale for an international education component in Botswanan secondary schools. Maintains that sustained development requires that students learn the interconnection of cultural, economic, political, and technological systems. Includes a breakdown of main topics with corresponding notes and comments.…