(2007). From \Banished\ to \Brother Outsider\, \Miss Navajo\ to \An Inconvenient Truth\: Documentary Films as Perspective-Laden Narratives. Social Education, v71 n4 p194-199 May-Jun. The ubiquity of documentary films in social studies courses, along with their potential to influence what students learn, clearly show that documentary films matter in social studies education. While the high rate of documentary film usage by social studies teachers indicates that they are amenable to bringing new films into their classrooms, they also know that some films can provoke uproar in some communities. This is more likely to occur when the film is cutting edge–whether it's ahead of the mainstream consensus on what is considered school knowledge, perceived as taking a position on an issue that is highly controversial, or about a topic that some parents or other community members consider taboo. As a case in point, teachers in Federal Way School District, south of Seattle, were criticized for showing \An Inconvenient Truth\ (a 2006 documentary, featuring Al Gore on the perils of global warming) because, as one parent argued, \Condoms don't belong in school, and neither does… [Direct]
(2007). Campus Violence White Paper. Journal of American College Health, v55 n5 p304-319 Mar-Apr. In 1999, the American College Health Association (ACHA) Executive Committee issued a position statement for the Association that addresses acts of violence, bias, and other violations of human rights that have been occurring all too often within or adjacent to college communities. The statement called for all campus health professionals to become actively engaged in the struggle to end oppression, to prevent bias-related violence in campus communities, and to take action to eradicate injustice. Since this timely position statement was developed, acts of violence have continued to force U.S. colleges and universities to address the dangerous and alarming violent events that send shockwaves throughout many campuses and compromise students' and employees' health and safety. ACHA's "Healthy Campus 2010" establishes national health objectives and serves as a basis for developing plans to create college health programs and improve student health. The purpose of this White Paper… [Direct]
(2007). Gaining Access to General Education: The Promise of Universal Design for Learning. Issues in Teacher Education, v16 n2 p41-54 Fall. On November 29, 1975 then President Ford signed the "Education of All Handicapped Children Act" (EAHCA) into law, mandating for the first time that children and youth with disabilities be afforded the right to a free and appropriate public education, individualized programming, parental participation in the decision making process, nondiscriminatory identification and evaluation, instruction in the least restrictive environment, while ensuring families due process rights and responsibilities. One challenge has been ensuring adequate access to the general education curriculum for an increasingly diverse group of learners within general education classrooms. One approach to making general education curriculum more accessible to diverse learners regardless of ability, learning style, language, or culture is the application of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Grounded in research of learner differences, the capacities of new media, and the most effective teaching practices… [PDF] [Direct]
(1996). Consumer Self Advocacy: A Training Program for Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families. Facilitator Manual. Revised [and] Participant Manual. This training package, including both a facilitator manual and a participant manual, presents information in four modules to teach self-advocacy skills to Guam individuals with disabilities and their families. Module 1 provides information on the definition of advocacy and self-advocacy, cultural influences that affect advocacy in Guam, and the needs of individuals with disabilities. Module 2 discusses legal rights and entitlements for consumers with disabilities. Module 3 describes expectations and goals for services for persons with disabilities, including information on service providers and support services. Module 3 also covers values that promote/support appropriate services and natural supports to self-advocacy. Module 4 explains methods of advocacy and effective strategies, including information on building self-confidence, developing problem-solving skills, developing effective communication and interpersonal relationships, and using the legal system to solve problems…. [PDF]
(1994). Mary McLeod Bethune: Feminist, Educator, and Social Activist. Draft. Multicultural education in the 1990s goes beyond the histories of particular ethnic and cultural groups to examine the context of oppression itself. The historical foundations of this modern conception of multicultural education are exemplified in the lives of African American women, whose stories are largely untold. Aspects of current theory and practice in curriculum transformation and multicultural education have roots in the activities of African American women. This paper discusses the life and contributions of Mary McLeod Bethune as an example of the interconnections among feminism, education, and social activism in early 20th century American life. (Author/EH)… [PDF]
(1993). Americans with Disabilities Act. This paper outlines key elements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as the ADA pertains to businesses, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. Implications of the legislation for postsecondary education institutions are then explored. The paper indicates that the ADA demands virtually the same standards for compliance in the employment area as Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Implications include renewed attention to disability access to facilities and programs, and increased use of campus facilities and programs by individuals with disabilities as transportation access improves. Differences between Section 504 and the ADA are analyzed, focusing on requirements for physical access in new construction or major renovations. Four publications on postsecondary education compliance with Section 504 and the ADA are described. Several government agencies and publications offering assistance on ADA requirements are listed. (JDD)… [PDF]
(1992). Women with Work Disabilities. Facts on Working Women No. 92.2. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) should provide disabled working women with better employment prospects and greater earning capacities. The ADA prohibits discrimination in all terms and conditions of employment against qualified disabled persons who can perform the essential functions of a given job with or without reasonable accommodation. More disabled working women are employed today than 10 years ago, and they are more likely to be employed full time; however, women with work disabilities are still three times as likely as nondisabled women to be unemployed. Black women workers are much more likely to be disabled than white women workers (13.8% versus 7.7%). The incidence of work disability increases with age. The percentage of disabled women working in service occupations is higher than the percentage of nondisabled women, and the disparity in the earnings of disabled and nondisabled working women widened significantly during the 1980s. A number of government… [PDF]
(1998). Protecting the Rights Guaranteed by the First Amendment Religious Liberty Clauses in Public Schools: The Role of the Superintendent. This paper analyzes the superintendent's role in protecting the religious liberty of students in today's public schools. The dilemma for superintendents is to find a way to step back, objectively and evaluate the activism in the community, and then move to a bonding leadership style when working with diverse religious issues. The paper opens with an overview of religion in schools, charting its influence from early America to today's public schools. The study's methodology consisted of structured interviews of three expert informants and structured interviews over a 6-month period with six superintendents who had experienced conflict in the public schools over religion-in-the schools issues and who had survived these conflicts. The findings indicate that the ability to find common ground in problematic environments is built on a certain knowledge base and a certain set of skills. Superintendents had to be committed to finding common ground, and this commitment had to include a… [PDF]
(1991). [United Nations Resolutions. Resolution on Prison Education. Resolution on Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners. Resolution on Criminal Justice Education.]. This document contains three United Nations resolutions that emphasize the role and practice of prison education. The three resolutions were adopted in 1990: (1) the Economic and Social Council Resolution 1990/20 on prison education; (2) the General Assembly Resolution 45/111 on basic principles for the treatment of prisoners; and (3) General Assembly Resolution 45/122 on criminal justice education. The first resolution affirms the right of everyone to education and recommends that member states promote prison education in the following ways: raising the educational level of prison personnel; focusing on resocialization, literacy, and vocational training; and developing policies that aim at developing the whole person. The second resolution sets out 11 principles for treatment of prisoners, including the following: respecting them as human beings, avoiding discrimination, respecting religious and cultural beliefs, and providing access to employment training and health services. The… [PDF]
(1992). Americans with Disabilities Act. Updating School Board Policies, v23 n4 May. Addressed to school board members, this article attempts to summarize requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its implications for school districts. It warns against hasty purchase of private compliance assistance; then provides an overview of each of the Act's five Titles which address employment practices, activities involving public contact, public accommodations, telecommunications companies, and miscellaneous provisions, respectively. Also discussed are liabilities under the ADA, requirements concerning hiring school personnel, and the Act's definitions of critical terms including: "physical or mental impairment,""major life activity,""record of impairment,""regarded as impaired,""qualified individual," and "essential function." In the "Tips 'n Techniques" section, eight benefits are listed for school districts enlisting senior citizen volunteers. The top 10 regional policy issues in…
(1991). An Overview of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention and Disability. This guide examines how the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has focused attention on the issue of the relationship between disabilities and the increased risk for alcohol and other drug problems. A number of reasons for increased risk of drug use in individuals with disabilities are discussed, such as medication use, health concerns or chronic pain, peer group differences, fewer social supports, and enabling of alcohol and other drug use. Disability categories identified as at risk for alcohol and other drug use are examined, including attention deficit disorder, blindness and visual impairments, deafness and hearing loss, hidden disabilities, learning disabilities, mental illness, mental retardation, mobility limitations, and traumatic brain injury. The guide then cites needs in the area of drug abuse prevention for this population, including research, access to appropriate prevention information, early identification of problems, and access to appropriate treatment….
(1991). Student First Amendment Rights: Wisconsin School Board Association. Issues in students' First Amendment rights are discussed in this paper, which is directed toward school board members. The "Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Schools" (1969) decision is discussed, in which the United States Supreme Court struck down the discipline imposed on students who wore black armbands during school hours to protest the Vietnam War. A second court decision, "Hazelwood School v. Kuhlmeier" (1988), addresses the issue of principal censorship of school-sponsored newspapers. Finally, "Board of Education v. Pico" (1982) is discussed, which addresses school board discretion to remove objectionable books from school libraries. (LMI)… [PDF]
(1994). Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: Organization, Compliance and Concern in Higher Education. AIR 1994 Annual Forum Paper. This study investigated the organization, compliance, and concerns of public higher education regarding the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. A survey was developed and mailed to 480 colleges and universities selected randomly within each Carnegie Classification. Analysis of responses from 270 institutions indicated that public higher education administrators understand and "grasp" the complexities of the ADA, and that they have organized the function within the institution to respond to the specific requirements of the law. Approximately 50 percent of the study group was found to be near full compliance but only 6 percent of the institutions were identified as fully compliant. Two additional surveys were conducted approximately 1 year following the main study to determine if institutional researchers have assisted ADA coordinators and whether and how ADA coordinators have utilized the services of the office of institutional research… [PDF]
(1983). Minimum Competency Testing and Handicapped Children: Is There a Role for the School Psychologist?. School psychologists can play a central role in ensuring that handicapped students are treated fairly in minimum competency testing (MCT). Advocacy concerns include protection in the evaluation process as well as access to graduation and/or a high school diploma. In addition to these rights guaranteed by P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, two other areas in MCT should be monitored by school psychologists: modifications in testing and the relationship between MCT and special education. A clearer relationship is needed between development and implementation of the individualized education program and the MCT. (CL)…
(1976). Will Separate Be More Equal?. Integrated Education, 14, 1, 3-5, Jan-Feb 76. Suggests that from the beginning a central problem with the separate but equal doctrine has been that once separation is assured, the dominant white society rarely feels any need to make even a pretense of equality. (Author/AM)…