(2006). Yves: Hope against the Odds. Journal of College Admission, n192 p6-9 Sum. This article relates the story of Jean-Yves Ngabonziza, a full-need international student. During his senior year, on Rwandan National Mourning Day, April 6, 19-year-old Yves spoke to the entire school community for the first time about his past and the past of his native country. He began with the history of central Africa, introduced the factions of the Rwandan conflict, described the genocide ("a civil war that erupted into genocide"), told how it played out and resolved. It was a remarkably professional presentation, in Yves' fourth language. Yves' education was made possible by the efforts of a Chicago-based Congolese man intent upon establishing a foundation for young Central Africans to be educated in the United States. With the assurance that his organization would provide for Yves' postsecondary education, Yves received a full scholarship package and stipend. The author contends that if individual philanthropists and foundations could match a college offer of a… [PDF]
(2008). Government Performance and Results Act Annual Report to the President and Congress–Fiscal Year 2007. National Council on Disability This report compares actual performance with the projected levels of performance set out in the National Council on Disability's (NCD's) annual performance plan. The findings of this report show a positive link between the allocated resources and NCD's performance. NCD's assessment review showed that it was successful in meeting its goals and achieving its intended results. NCD has applied taxpayer resources efficiently in a manner that maximizes the effectiveness of Government programs in serving the American people. NCD's FY 2007 activities promoted the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society by increasing access to assistive and universally designed technologies, expanding educational and employment opportunities, and promoting increased access into daily community life-the core of your New Freedom Initiative. These efforts were based on NCD's strategic goals: (1) Make evidence-based public policy recommendations that can enhance the lives of people… [PDF]
(2004). Student Discipline Rights and Procedures: A Guide for Advocates. Education Law Center To be both fair and effective, student discipline law and policy must balance two separate rights of students: the constitutional right to a public education, and the right to a safe and orderly learning environment. Procedures and laws to protect students from arbitrary and wrongful discipline are necessary, as are procedures and laws to allow schools to discipline disruptive and dangerous students. The New Jersey Department of Education has recognized that there are problems with state policy and law on student discipline and has begun the process of developing a new student discipline code. This manual is designed to help parents and advocates represent students in discipline cases. It sets forth the current state of New Jersey law and policy governing student discipline, and points out the areas in which reform is needed. The manual is divided into two parts: Part I sets forth the law and procedures that apply to all students involved in a discipline case; Part II sets forth the… [PDF]
(1990). Caring Makes a Difference: Responding to Prejudice, Genocide, and The Holocaust: A K-8 Curriculum. The goal of this teaching guide is to help students develop a positive self-image, behave as responsible individuals, and accept differences in order to have the tools to challenge the forms of prejudice and discrimination that confront society. The Holocaust and continuing genocides are prejudice in its most extreme form. The Holocaust raises the most serious questions and concerns about the nature of human behavior; the role of the perpetrator; the bystander; and the victim. The goals of the lessons and activities are to raise the level of awareness, critical thinking skills, and problem solving techniques through dilemmas, readings, and discussions. Teachers can decide which lessons to use based on the level of maturity of the students. The guide consists of lesson plans and activities, professional resource materials, and suggested resources for obtaining additional materials. The units are developed by grade levels and topics and include: (1) Grades K-2: "Learning How to… [PDF]
(1992). Women and the Constitution. Curriculum Unit. The purpose of this curriculum unit is to give students a better understanding of the history of the relationship between women and constitutional issues. The study of women and the United States Constitution is an important reminder of the complexity of a democracy. In the United States, even today, the ideology of freedom and justice is often blocked by traditionally held sexist and racist ideas that limit women's full participation as citizens. The content and activities in this unit can be integrated into a chronological study of U.S. history or they can be used exclusively to promote a more comprehensive understanding of women and the Constitution. In addition to narrative sections providing historic overviews of issues most important to women, the unit contains a chronology of women's legal and political history (1769-1987); a list defining the key concepts that have been part of the ongoing debate about rights; biographical sketches on the lives of the women mentioned in the…
(1974). Teachers and Other School Employees. During 1973, the broad issues characterizing the majority of court decisions concerning school employees were the constitutional and statutory rights of teachers and the relationship between these rights and the authority of the employer to act. Due process, both procedural and substantive, continues to receive extensive court consideration along with tenure disputes. This chapter reviews and discusses cases involving discrimination, dismissal and discipline, seniority, due process, compensation, leaves of absence, retirement, collective bargaining, and union activity. (Author/DW)…
(1994). Secondary Education and Political Attitudes: Examining the Effects on Political Tolerance of the "We the People…" Curriculum. Based on a 1993 survey of 1,351 high school students from across the United States, this report demonstrates that students in high school civics, government, and U.S. history classes display more "political tolerance" than the average citizen. The study also establishes that students in classes using all or part of the Center for Civic Education's "We the People…" curriculum are more tolerant than students following other curricula. The We the People… program fosters increased tolerance, the report states, because it promotes higher levels of self-confidence and the perception of fewer limits on students' own political freedom. The higher the level of participation in the "We the People…" stimulated congressional hearing competition, the greater the likelihood of students' opposition to limits on free assembly, due process rights, and freedom of speech, press, and religion. (Contains 24 references.) (LH)… [PDF]
(1997). Juveniles and the Law. Teaching Strategy. Update on Law-Related Education, v21 n2 p9-10 Spr. Presents a lesson plan that teaches students to analyze the goals and effectiveness of the juvenile justice system. Instructional materials include handouts describing three criminal situations involving teenagers and copies of an article on the juvenile justice system. Activities include small group discussions followed by a class discussion. (MJP)…
(1993). Teaching Civil Liberties: The Missing Dimension. Perspectives on Political Science, v22 n3 p116-23 Sum. Contends that, although civil liberties are part of the higher education and secondary curriculum, the development of constitutional liberty by state supreme courts and state constitutions is almost totally ignored. Reviews 11 college-level textbooks and analyzes their treatment of civil liberties related to state laws and courts. (CFR)…
(1990). The Fate of Teaching Constitutional Principles to Middle School Students. Social Studies Review, v30 n1 p15-26 Fall. Advocates teaching constitutional history and principles to middle school students in accordance with the 1988 California History-Social Science Framework. Reports findings of a survey of 118 California middle school and high school teachers that revealed a need for improved teacher knowledge about the U.S. Constitution. Recommends steps to ensure content mastery of this field. (NL)…
(1990). The Final Right. Update on Law-Related Education, v14 n3 p34-37 Fall. Presents a classroom teaching unit based on the Supreme Court case, "Cruzan v. Missouri Department of Health." Students extract and prioritize the arguments from the lower court decisions, write position papers, and conduct a moot court simulation. Discusses individual and states' rights and quality of life concerns. Includes six handouts to help prepare for the moot court. (NL)…
(1992). Opening the Doors: Using Technology To Improve Education for Students with Disabilities. A federally sponsored project explored educational practices, originating in diverse communities, in which teachers used educational technology in innovative ways to meet the needs of children with disabilities. This booklet describes projects at 11 sites around the United States. It presents a model for technology integration, emphasizes the need for creating a climate for change and a clearly defined mission, examines ways to find resources, notes the need in some districts for a dedicated position to deliver teacher training, and discusses what technology means to students. An appendix describes the conceptual model of the processes in technology innovation and integration. The booklet concludes with paragraph-length descriptions of the 11 programs and a list of 22 suggested readings. (JDD)… [PDF]
(2006). Preparing Teachers for Culturally and Cognitively Diverse Classrooms: What Would Dewey Say?. Teacher Education and Practice, v19 n4 p513-534 Fall. Educational and legislative reforms occurring in the last half of the 20th century appear to have been initiated in response to the writings of John Dewey. The field of teacher education has responded to these reforms by adopting many new models of teacher preparation, technologies, and innovative best practices. Many of these changes were designed to meet the perceived needs of at-risk students and thus improve their chances for school success. Presumably, Dewey would be pleased with these reforms. Nevertheless, schools continue to be inhospitable for many members of minority and disability groups who cannot compete favorably with peers. This article examines educational, societal, and legislative barriers that preclude the possibility of educational reform's significantly increasing democracy in education. It discusses the futility of teacher education's striving for reform and its promoting a measurable level of educational democracy in the absence of broader social discourse…. [Direct]
(1992). Immigrant Students, Their Legal Right of Access to Public Schools. A Guide for Advocates and Educators. Revised. This updated version of a 1989 document of the same title represents a guide to the immigrant student's legal right of access to public schools based on the 1982 United States Supreme Court ruling in "Plyler v. Doe." Following an introduction, the first of three sections, "School Practices," addresses everyday school practices by outlining prohibited and recommended practices concerning registration, documentation, verification, relations with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, staff training, the need for regulations and rumor control, along with recommended actions for state and local education agencies. The second section, "The Right of Access," addresses the Plyler ruling itself, and the legal reasoning behind it. The third section, "Parents and Advocates," addresses the role of parents and community members in ensuring that schools abide by and respect Plyler and other educational rights of immigrant students. This section…
(1996). Rights of the Child in Nigeria. This report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child contains observations of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) concerning the application of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child by the Federation of Nigeria. The report's introduction asserts that the rule by decree of Nigeria's present military regime has serious implications for human rights, and that the most fundamental recommendation of any report seeking to further the interests of the rights of Nigerian children must be a return to democratic civilian rule. The report then presents observations and recommendations in the following areas: (1) the definition of a child; (2) criminal responsibility; (3) the practice of torture; (4) the use of corporal punishment as a punitive measure; (5) physical chastisement of the child in the home; (6) punishment on a gender discriminatory basis; (7) death penalty and life imprisonment; (8) summary execution; (9) arrest and detention; (10) special… [PDF]