(1977). The Impacts of the Federal Government on Villanova University. A Self Study. Results of a self-study conducted by Villanova University, Pennsylvania, on the impact of government legislation and regulations are described. A committee studied the issues and sought the opinions of faculty, administrators, and students. Financial impacts of governmental programs and effects of affirmative action and student rights programs/requirements were assessed. The impact of government policies on research at the university, although involving only a few departments, was evaluated. Other governmental policies that affect the university, including federal reporting requirements, national labor policy, and state coordination were considered, as were grade inflation and economic inflation, which are affected by governmental policies. It was found that the student body has grown somewhat larger because of the availability of financial aid, but has remained almost wholly white and middle-to-upper class. Of the university components, the financial aid office has been the most…
(1979). Children's Rights Handbook. For Teachers, Youth Workers and Student Organizers. Designed for youth workers, teachers, counselors, and student organizers, 11 essays in this handbook examine issues concerned with children's rights. \Children's Rights and Social Work\ proposes that social workers can speed and direct the process of change by advocating the rights of young people and by providing services to make those rights a reality. The cartoon, \The Invention of Childhood,\ suggests that our conceptions of children are shaped by our culture. \A Look At Children's Oppression and Some Suggestions for Change\ examines discrimination in the legal system, the family, and the schools. \Changing Childhood\ analyzes the isolation of modern middle-class children from active participation in community life. Other essays discuss the weaknesses of alternative youth service agencies, refute arguments that adults use to prevent youth from participating in the political processes, analyze the \myths\ of childhood, and describe Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor, the first…
(1995). Gender Tales: Tensions in the Schools. This casebook is intended to supplement textbooks and readings that present theory and research findings on gender equity. Many of these cases originated in real classroom settings and are intended for use with preservice teachers. Part 1, \The Meaning of Gender Equality in the Schools,\ contains: \'Girlspeak' and \Boyspeak': Gender Differences in Classroom Discussion\ (Brenda Weikel); \A Rare Commodity\ (Joan Skolnick); \The Teacher Who Knew Too Much\ (Deborah Reynolds); \Jane, the Reluctant Mathlete\ (Suzanne Yerian); \Her Work is Not Scholarly!\ (Selma Wassermann); \Girls on the Wrestling Team: A Community Fight\ (Judith S. Kleinfeld); and \The Venerable Tradition of Separate-Sex Schooling\ (Judith S. Kleinfeld). Part 2, \Increasing Achievement among Young Women,\ contains:\The Square Parachute: Science in Gender-mixed Groups\ (Gender Equity Project Teachers); \Burn Schools to the Ground\ (Betty McKinny); \Tough Anna\ (Brenda Weikel; Suzanne Yerian); \Diane News: The Choice\ (from…
(1989). Working Notes from the National Conference on the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights. This document presents the working papers from a conference that explored ways for students to commemorate the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights. The conference provided an opportunity for leaders in law-related education and others interested in the Bicentennial to work together to begin exploring, identifying, sharing, and jointly suggesting education projects and materials that might enhance student understanding of the Bill of Rights. The working notes are intended to stimulate discussion among interested individuals and organizations on ways to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights. The objectives of the conference and notes were to encourage the field to develop, refine, and expand ways to enhance the commemoration of the Bill of Rights. The notes explore four areas: (1) bicentennial models for youth participation; (2) bicentennial curriculum resources and needs; (3) bicentennial state and local activities and programs; and (4) bicentennial national programs. The… [PDF]
(1994). Seeing Is Not Believing: Sexual Harassment in Public School and the Role of Adults. Peer-to-peer sexual harassment is rampant in elementary and secondary schools. While sometimes identified and curtailed, it is usually tolerated and characterized as normal. Regardless of the ways school authorities regard sexual harassment, it interferes with a student's right to receive equal educational opportunities and violates Title IX. This paper describes the experiences of students who have experienced sexual harassment by their peers and discusses its ramifications. A conclusion is that, ultimately, a strategy to attack sexual harassment in schools needs to aim at a transformation of the broader school culture. The problem must become a public concern. Finally, action should be taken in conjunction with efforts to reduce other practices that promote inequalities, such as tracking, standardized testing, biased curricula, and classroom pedagogies. (LMI)… [PDF]
(1996). Multicultural Education, Transformative Knowledge and Action: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. Multicultural Education Series. The 18 chapters of this book document persistent themes in the struggle for human freedom in the United States since the late nineteenth century, as exemplified in the scholarship and actions of people of color and their white supporters. One theme is that the margins of U.S. society, to which people of color have often been confined, have usually been the sites for preserving and defending the freedoms and rights stated in the country's founding documents when they were most severely challenged. The conceptual framework around which the book is organized and the historical roots of multicultural education are described in part 1. Part 2 presents case studies of individuals whose work exemplifies the contributions of multicultural education. In part 3, the work of women scholars and activists in transforming society is discussed. Part 4 describes the rise and fall of the intergroup education movement and research related to prejudice in the 1930s and 1940s. The final section, part…
(1994). Gender and Diversity in the Workplace: Learning Activities and Exercises. Many colleges and universities and many work organizations have developed courses and programs on gender and diversity in the workplace. This book provides a complete and comprehensive set of instructional materials on these topics. The exercises have been designed for use with graduate and undergraduate students and members of business and nonprofit organizations. The first several exercises cause the student to examine his or her attitudes and qualities, and they explore stereotyping in general and for particular groups. The effects of gender and cultural or racial differences on hiring policies and practices are addressed, and several exercises are designed to develop awareness of gender differences. Some exercises deal with sexuality and alternative lifestyles. Others explore management behaviors and managing people of different cultures. Affirmative action, reverse discrimination, and developing diversity plans are explored. The final exercise considers gender and diversity in…
(1996). Women's History Curriculum Guide. This curriculum guide is designed to facilitate teachers' first efforts to introduce information about women in U.S. history. The guide promotes a multicultural awareness of women's history beginning with the Native Americans and proceeding to current issues of diversity. Activities are divided for grades 1-6 and 7-12 but may be adapted as appropriate. Activities for grades 1-6 include a play about the life of Maria Tallchief; biographies of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Jade Snow Wong, Dolores Huerta, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Harriet Tubman that can be read and used for class discussions and projects; cut-out puppets of the above women; and a \She Did It\ wordsearch puzzle. Activities for grades 7-12 include Women's History news reports; research on Women and Work; a poster design contest; a family history; a mock trial for Susan B. Anthony; a dramatic re-enactment of Sojourner Truth's 1851 speech; and a Women's History biography study. Specific strategies for…
(1995). Discrimination. Prejudice in Action. Multicultural Issues. This book for young readers explains what discrimination is and explores different types of discrimination and how they have developed over the years. Laws that make it more difficult to discriminate against others are described, and the struggle for human rights is outlined. Discrimination means acting unfavorably toward someone based on the group to which that person belongs rather than on the person's own merits. Prejudice is a belief or an attitude; discrimination involves an action that displays prejudice. When one discriminates, he or she considers the person, not as a person, but as a stereotype. Individual chapters discuss racial discrimination, gender discrimination, discrimination against homosexuals, age discrimination, and discrimination against people with disabilities. The future of discrimination in the United States is considered. A glossary and a list of 21 resource organizations are included. Twenty-one sources are listed for further reading. (SLD)…
(1994). A Guide for Disability Services: Eastern Washington University Faculty/Staff Handbook. This guidebook and accompanying videocassette address services for students, job applicants, and employees with disabilities at Eastern Washington University. The videotapes should be accompanied by each school's own training materials based on personal needs. The materials cover: (1) responsibilities of higher education related to legislative mandates, specifically Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act; (2) reasonable accommodation procedures for academic programs, focusing on student, staff, and faculty responsibilities; (3) reasonable accommodation procedures for non-academic or non-employment related activities; (4) reasonable accommodation procedures for applicants and employees of Eastern Washington University; (5) examples of reasonable accommodations for people who are blind or partially sighted, are deaf or hearing impaired, mobility impaired, learning disabled, speech impaired, or chronically health impaired; (6) services and… [PDF]
(1993). African-American Heritage. A Resource Guide for Teachers. Grades 6-8. Draft. This curriculum guide provides teachers with materials on African-American history and culture that include some of the most recent scholarship in the field. The activities and resources assembled do not constitute a comprehensive treatment of African-American history, but they do examine many topics within that history. The volume encompasses six themes: (1) "The African Homeland"; (2) "Nile Valley Civilizations"; (3) "African Empires and Village Societies"; (4) "Africans in the Americas"; (5) "The Struggle for Human Rights"; and (6) "Present and Future." Each theme section opens with background information for the teacher and then lists major ideas and the performance objectives for the theme. Learning activities for each theme provide a development section. Corresponding activity sheets can be duplicated for students and used as the basis for class discussion. The activity sheets contain materials of various types, such… [PDF]
(1995). Overview of ADA, IDEA, and Section 504. ERIC Digest E537. This brief paper presents a comparative overview of three major federal laws affecting people with disabilities: the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Presented in chart form, the three pieces of legislation are compared for the following aspects: (1) type/purpose; (2) who is protected; (3) responsibility to provide a free, appropriate public education; (4) funding to implement requirements; (5) procedural safeguards; (6) evaluation/placement procedures; and (7) due process. Also included are the telephone numbers of two information lines and a list of seven suggested resources. (DB)… [PDF]
(1995). The Americans with Disabilities Act and Its Impact on Public Education. A Legal Memorandum, Apr. This paper summarizes implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on public education. It notes similarities between the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which already prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in most public schools. The ADA is seen as having its main impact in the area of employment, with school districts being required to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities and prohibited from requiring a medical examination prior to an offer of employment. The ADA is not seen as affecting requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate education. The paper first addresses general provisions of the ADA, then reviews provisions of Title I regarding employment, Title II regarding public services, and Title V (miscellaneous provisions). Case law interpreting Section 504 and IDEA is then reviewed, addressing the issues of: (1)…
(1991). Analysis of State Applications for Year 4: Planning for the Personnel Components of Part H of IDEA. NEC*TAS Notes, n2 Sep 27. This analysis reports on the plans for special education personnel development by those states submitting fourth year applications under Part H of Public Law 99-457, the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (1986). The eight states–Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, and Texas–used a variety of approaches in addressing the law's two primary components: (1) standards for early intervention personnel; and (2) a Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD). The report presents findings by specific legislative and regulatory requirements including the following: disciplines included (audiologists, special educators, nurses, nutritionists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, physicians, psychologists, social workers, speech/language pathologists); personnel standards (including "highest standards," infancy specialization, and assurance of qualified personnel); CSPD components (qualified personnel, inservice education… [PDF]
(1990). Independence, The Journey Continues: Executive Summary–1990 Report on Persons with Disabilities. In the executive report to the 1990 annual report the Virginia Board for Rights of the Disabled summarizes findings from the analysis of 47 federally-assisted and state-funded programs serving individuals with developmental disabilities in Virginia as well as a consumer satisfaction survey polling 309 Virginians with developmental disabilities. Recommendations pertain to education, employment, community living, and unserved/underserved constituencies with developmental disabilities, with recommendations made in each category. Implementation and advocacy plans for the board are also described. (PB)…