Analyzes social and economic challenges facing the Caribbean region. Examines colonialism's legacy, factors contributing to emigration, and social stratification. Emphasizes difficulties in self-determination created historically by externally introduced ideas, continuing U.S. hegemony, and cultural, racial, and ethnic differences. Provides maps…

Describes the Commonwealth Caribbean: 17 English-speaking countries in the Caribbean, sharing history, culture, and developmental problems. Examines the social studies in individual Commonwealth Caribbean educational systems. Highlights needs for improved teacher education; textbook availability; and a six-level primary social studies course.…

Outlines a distance education Certificate in Education program for teachers in the Commonwealth Caribbean, administered by the University of the West Indies in association with the University of London. Highlights the learning modules of the Teaching of Social Studies option. Examines student evaluation and explores problems that arise in…

Presents resource materials on the Caribbean for teachers and students. Lists works in the following areas: nonfiction for secondary students; background information and teacher guides; fiction by Caribbean writers; fiction anthologies; and poetry. Also identifies sources for books, films, and school district publications. (CH)

Presents a descriptive survey of North Carolina home schooling. Examines demographic variables, parents' reasons, and choice of curriculum materials, focusing on social studies. Finds most parents used commercially produced textbooks, supplemental materials, and field trips. Identifies texts used by parents motivated by religious factors. Stresses…

Surveys levels of political tolerance among 152 U.S. government teachers and 96 social studies coordinators in Texas. Investigates attitudes toward various groups (e.g., neo-Nazis), and whether respondents felt that even disliked groups should be accorded their civil liberties. Concludes majority of these educators practiced what they taught.…

Criticizes character education programs that tend merely to present moral values to students, believing this produces socially responsible behavior. Argues listing values is simplistic and ineffective. Recognizes the situational complexity that confounds making moral choices. Suggests character education must contend with value conflicts and guide…

A historian reviews the process of writing his first historical novel, "Underground Man." Explores parts of the book based on the life of Calvin Fairbank, an abolitionist in Ohio and Kentucky. Delineates historical sources for each chapter, separating fact from fiction. Explains many of the decisions that determined plot and character development.…

Presents the annual annotated bibliography of children's trade books, recommended by the Book Review Subcommittee of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)-Children's Book Council (CBC) Joint Committee. Selects books written for children in grades K-8, emphasizing human relations and cultural diversity. Selection also reflects…

Recommends using children's literature to teach cultural pluralism in early childhood and in elementary social studies programs. Delineates anthropological concepts and suggests a list of children's books that may be helpful for teaching these concepts. A 21-item bibliography is included. (NL)

Responds to critiques of the National Commission for Social Studies in the Schools' curriculum report, "Charting A Course: Social Studies for the 21st Century" (Social Education, Nov-Dec, 1990). Contends that the guideline provides for citizenship education, disciplined knowledge, and reflective education. Argues that the debate represents the…

Argues that the National Commission for Social Studies 1989 report, "Charting a Course: Social Studies for the 21st Century" is too conservative. Notes the trend-setting recommendation to integrate U.S. and world history, sequencing through grades 9-11 may be impractical. Points out the proposal for intensive study of local history at seventh…

Comments that the National Commission on the Social Studies report, "Charting a Course: Social Studies for the 21st Century," (1989) failed to fully explore citizenship requirements of democracy. Argues that social studies at all levels should promote student analysis of controversial public issues and develop students' understanding of pluralism…

Presents a whole language model for teaching social studies that is helpful to students learning English-as-a-Second-Language. Outlines whole-language principles, and provides a lesson plan that incorporates these principles. Points out that such principles draw upon student experiences. (NL)

Argues that exposing children to some of Lawrence Kohlberg's moral dilemmas, such as Helga's dilemma, may be pedagogically unsound at the elementary-school level. States sample responses provided are inappropriate, rigid, and self-righteous. Provides 10 reasons why this dilemma and its designated responses are of questionable morality. Claims…