This article provides background on the thinking and life of historian Frederick Jackson Turner. Featured is an excerpt from Turner's 1891 article: "The Significance of History." The article includes Turner's definition of history and his views on the relationship between the study of history and citizenship. (JDH)

Reviews the American Federation of Teachers' (AFT) report, EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY. States that while the AFT is to be commended for addressing the goal of citizenship education and furthering the ongoing debate, the report shows evidence of shoddy scholarship, dubious assumptions regarding curricular design, and nationalistic bias clothed in…

The author of EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY defends its content and position on the teaching of history, geography, and democratic citizenship. Concludes that children must learn the knowledge, values, and habits that will best protect and extend our democratic heritage. (JDH)

Introduces Tough's seven-category framework of children's language and suggests how it can be used as a basis for developing a classroom questioning strategy. Provides a description and examples of each of the seven categories and reports on teacher training results. (JDH)

Reviews the 1974 statement on academic freedom of the National Council for the Social Studies and offers a rationale for maintaining academic freedom. Reviews recent censorship threats, the "climate of restriction" which pervades textbooks and teaching, and teachers' reasons for self-censorship. (JDH)

Part of the acceptance speech of the 1985 National Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year, this article describes the censorship experience of this honored social studies teacher. The incident involved the showing of a videotape version of the feature film entitled "The Seduction of Joe Tynan." (JDH)

This article reviews recent threats to academic freedom and examines the tendencies which either undermine or bolster the individual's willingness to exercise that freedom. Concludes that those who would curtail academic freedom are receiving support from a conservative federal judiciary and a national administration that identifies closely with…

Cites examples of private attacks and governmental restrictions on academic freedom. Contends that teachers must explicitly teach the importance of free inquiry in an open society; and that school districts must have written procedures in place for dealing with complaints. (JDH)

Notes that the principles of academic freedom are not well established and that standards are difficult to define for judging individual cases of conflict. Reviews cases which demonstrate how difficult it is to draw the line between the rights of parents and the school board and the rights of teachers and students. (JDH)

Reviews the recent history of the Fifth Amendment focusing primarily on its use by government officials during the Iran-Contra hearings and by teachers during the McCarthy era hearings. Concludes that social studies teachers must encourage discussion of the political and philosophical issues contained in the Iran-Contra hearings. (JDH)

Asserts that the rational use and management of conflict resulting from the clash of ideas is a sine qua non for social studies teachers. Argues that competent social studies teachers must stop short of violating the personal privacy of students even if the purpose is noble. (JDH)

States that the proper treatment of issues relies upon the conversion of an interpersonal conflict into an intrapersonal one. Without such conversion, a student is prone to argue with other students and the teacher, rather than himself. Describes five types of statements useful for promoting thoughtful discussions of controversial issues. (JDH)

Clarifies and explains the ideologies and potential justifications of censorship efforts. Offers recommendations and procedures for maintaining an atmosphere with ample freedom to learn and positive community relations. (JDH)

States that academic freedom is probably better described today as a protected interest rather than a right. Offers a set of policy guidelines for handling censorship efforts. Includes a sample statement of policy on the selection and reconsideration of instructional materials. (JDH)

Describes two recent international incidents which tell a great deal about the Japanese "world view." The incidents regard the content of a new Japanese history textbook (protested by South Korea), and alleged racist remarks of Prime Minister Nakasone. Claims the two are related and provide lessons for our own version of history and conduct. (JDH)