Delineates four compelling reasons for placing bioethical issues, including abortion, in a curricular context. These include linking ethics and civics, preparing informed decision makers, public debate, and studying the future today. Includes activities and questions designed to provide students with a conceptual focus. (MJP)

Presents three law-related education lesson plans discussing the relationship between church and state. The first two lessons, establishment of religion and free exercise of religion, culminate in the third, a round table discussion. The students research, role play, and argue hypothetical and real court cases. (MJP)

Advocates teaching controversial issues to children, claiming that they already have some knowledge of these through their own experience and media exposure. Describes role-playing activities, including simulated small claims court and city council hearings. Provides an overview of a five-day instructional unit on violence. (MJP)

Claims that the proposed National History Standards subvert the legitimate purpose of history instruction, the explanation and understanding of historical meaning, in an effort to redress historical grievances. Argues that the Standards apply a critical perspective to European culture while celebrating the achievements of native cultures. (MJP)

Maintains that criticism of the National History Standards is inaccurate and politically motivated. Claims that conservatives value history instruction as an inculcation of patriotism rather than a search for truth. Praises the Standards as fair, insightful, and useful. (MJP)

Criticizes the very notion of national standards for history. Maintains that the interpretative nature of historical study does not lend itself to the establishment of a single set of curricular standards. Argues that the most effective means of improving history instruction is to improve education for history teachers. (MJP)

Presents instructional materials and suggestions for using primary source documents regarding Admiral Peary's search for the North Pole. Cache notes were brief dispatches left for the press in ice hutches along with provisions and maps. Includes a photocopy of a cache note from Peary's expedition with suggested research topics and activities. (MJP)

Study examines the ethnic identity development of 252 adolescents. Analyses reveal that being a member of an ethnic minority group and interracial climate accounted for the greatest variance in ethnic identity development. Discusses implications for how these findings support multicultural efforts in public schools. (Contains 26 references and 3…

Reports on a survey of coordinators in the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program in Ohio. The completed instrument identifies factors that help and hinder the interprofessional practice of the coordinators in a school-based program. Coordinators' responses are classified into four emergent themes: time; money; community building; and school politics.…

Interagency information sharing is a critical feature of social work efficacy on schools, but legal, policy, and ethical issues are often poorly understood. Article outlines regulatory development of confidentiality in five public service arenas and proposes a means of planning effective information-sharing procedures in an interagency project.…

Addresses the issue of absenteeism and reviews how two facilitated elementary school groups proved successful in achieving improved attendance while the groups were in session. Discusses the general benefits of attendance groups and describes how a supportive, goal-focused group format suggests added potential for therapeutic and scholastic…

Discusses the ecological conceptualization of the person-in-environment as a basis of social work practice. Presents a case illustration of a solution-focused model used in an ecological practice perspective. The case shows how a solution-focused model can be used not only with the client, but also with the client's environment. (Contains 20…

Examines the effects of school size on 945 middle school students' perception of school satisfaction, teacher support, and school safety using data from a national probability sample. Findings suggest that the negative relationship between school size and student outcomes may be from the effect of high enrollments on the school environment.…

Investigates possible reasons for the underrepresentation of school social workers in Nevada. Surveys special educators about their attitudes toward social work as a pupil support service. Significant differences were found among educators and the value they placed on social workers. Educators with more knowledge about the role of social work in…

Adolescents faced with frequent school transitions may be vulnerable to a decline in academic achievement and poor participation in school activities, yet these difficulties are not always predictive with children of military personnel. School experiences and transition of 6,382 children of military personnel were reviewed. Findings suggest that…