Stephen M. Caliendo - Böcker

Caliendo examines the results of a comprehensive study of how students learn about American Government. The working premise is that while many political attitudes formed during adolescent socialization are open to change throughout one's life, latent attitudes that are not salient and, thus, are not challenged with new information provided by media or other communications are more likely to persist into adulthood. He focuses on diffuse support for the United States Supreme Court and argues that how students are taught about the Court in high school is likely to have a particularly lasting effect due to the Court's relative invisibility.Drawing from interviews with teachers, analysis of Government textbooks, and student surveys, the findings suggest that teachers make a difference in how students perceive parts of the political system (particularly the Supreme Court). This is particularly relevant for more abstract parts of the system since those types of attitudes are unlikely to be challenged through the mass media throughout one's life. Normative discussion of the role of schools in educating for democracy suggests that there is a problem of priority as well as approach. Putting social science on the back burner may have important ramifications, as students are not asked to think critically about the American political system and their role within it. Of particular interest to scholars, researchers, and policy makers involved with social science education and political socialization.

The second edition of The Routledge Companion to Race and Ethnicity offers readers a broad overview of scholarly exploration of the ways that humans have organized themselves (and have been organized) according to racial and ethnic divisions. More than 80 scholars from around the world and representing multiple academic traditions contribute entries to this accessible yet sophisticated volume that addresses contemporary issues in historical context. The first half of the book challenges readers to grapple with some of the most controversial aspects of categorization, prejudice and discrimination through focused chapters ranging from the notion of Whiteness to the supposed biological rationale for racial categorization. The second half is comprised of 70 shorter entries on specialized concepts, persons and groups that are crucial to understanding these issues. Taken as a whole, this volume provides a broad, multi-disciplinary and global overview of issues that continue to provide challenges to notions of equality and justice.

The second edition of The Routledge Companion to Race and Ethnicity offers readers a broad overview of scholarly exploration of the ways that humans have organized themselves (and have been organized) according to racial and ethnic divisions. More than 80 scholars from around the world and representing multiple academic traditions contribute entries to this accessible yet sophisticated volume that addresses contemporary issues in historical context. The first half of the book challenges readers to grapple with some of the most controversial aspects of categorization, prejudice and discrimination through focused chapters ranging from the notion of Whiteness to the supposed biological rationale for racial categorization. The second half is comprised of 70 shorter entries on specialized concepts, persons and groups that are crucial to understanding these issues. Taken as a whole, this volume provides a broad, multi-disciplinary and global overview of issues that continue to provide challenges to notions of equality and justice.