Reviews and critiques a current book on critical pedagogy: C. H. Knoblauch's and Lil Brannon's "Critical Teaching and the Idea of Literacy." Considers the concepts of critical teaching, functional literacy, and teacher inquiry. (HB)

Provides an account of how one English teacher fosters awareness of the metaphorical nature of language and the sensory experience of poetry. Shows how the poem "Mnemonic" by Li-Young Lee can be used to instruct students concerning how poetry speaks to the memories of the reader. (HB)

Argues that English teachers are in an admirable position to move troubled, violent students in directions that will prove productive for them. States what the real situation is in regards to violence in schools today. Looks at root causes for violence. Considers what secondary schools can do in cooperation with teachers. Outlines teaching…

Suggests that by reading relevant literature, examining films, essays, and music lyrics, and listening closely to students themselves, both teachers and students can come to better understand violence. Reviews specific works of literature and subject areas covered in a lower-level college literature course and a high school English class. Includes…

Explores the possibility that combining conflict management and English content, particularly short stories, can help young people develop more effective cognitive skills. Proposes a unit that begins with journal writing and general discussion of conflicts (including a description of three styles with which people manage conflict) and moves on to…

Argues for a series of classroom strategies designed to help inner-city students distinguish between violence in their lives for which they are responsible and violence in their lives cause by larger societal structures. Describes possible readings, films, and corresponding writing exercises. Describes contact with community nonviolence groups and…

Argues for three levels of solutions to today's problems with violence in the schools: (1) crisis management, including surveillance and close supervision; (2) mediation, through which third parties referee disputes; and (3) the English curriculum, which cultivates many different ways of questioning, valuing, seeing. (TB)

Describes a 3-pronged policy to control budding problems of violence in a Midwestern school of about 2,600 students. Explains why each of the three policy changes--more lunch periods, assigned lockers, and mandatory student identification cards visibly displayed on each student--have made an enormous difference. (TB)

Tells the story of three high school students whose violent, confrontational behavior proved inveterate despite the meting out of various conventional punishments such as in-school suspension. Posits that some students may be untreatable through the disciplinary apparatus available to school administrators. (TB)

Explores how journal writing in a free form--without consideration of grammar, punctuation, or other mechanics and without the guidance of an assigned topic--may lead to trusting relationships with teachers and students' increased understanding of their own needs and motives. Suggests that behavior of troubled students improves as a result of this…

Recounts a teacher's poignant attempt to reach a troubled student who shows only cynical disdain for classroom activities and meets friendly overtures with a cold, unemotional stare. Concludes that teachers cannot reach all students and sometimes have to let some go. (TB)

Shows how troubled students who usually act tough and indifferent open up and become interested in learning and willing to show their weaknesses in an in-school suspension environment. Argues that such students need increased skills and a safe environment, movement toward creativity and compassion, and movement away from thoughts of survival. (TB)

Compares the educational philosophy of most present-day educators (secular democratic consciousness) with the educational philosophy of the religious right (classical democratic consciousness). Argues that language arts departments must defend their programs against the religious right as well as attempt to understand it and forge constructive…

Explains from the standpoint of a teacher who is a member of the religious right why the schools today are a difficult place for those with strong religious views. Maintains that certain prejudicial positions that educators assume make communication with the religious right difficult, but suggests that language arts teachers may be uniquely…

Describes theological views about written texts, related attitudes exhibited by current protestors, and problems such views and attitudes create for English language arts teachers. Suggests that such an awareness of the religious perspective might help to lead to more constructive outcomes to conflicts between teachers and individual students and…