![](https://www.angelfire.com/ca3/veritas/images/CULTLIT.asp) |
Cultural Literacy:
What Every American Needs to Know This landmark book by E. D. Hirsch
provides a resounding argument in favor of teaching students specific,
substantial academic content. He provides several convincing reasons why a
core body of knowledge is essential to a successful democracy, and
demonstrates that challenging, content-filled lessons need not be dull or
stifle creativity.
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![](https://www.angelfire.com/ca3/veritas/images/TSWN.asp) |
The Schools We Need
and Why We Don't Have Them also by E. D. Hirsch addresses the question of
how teachers should teach their students. He points out the flaws of
the 'student-led' methods of learning that typically result in less content
and skill acquisition by the students as compared to the traditional direct
instruction method. He also provides a fascinating history of educational
theory, and debunks the claim that the 'natural' or 'student-led' method has
never been given a fair trial in the classroom.
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![](https://www.angelfire.com/ca3/veritas/images/BCIS.asp) |
Building Character
in Schools by Kevin Ryan and Karen Bohlin provides an outstanding resource
for teachers and parents who want to find out the hows and the whys of
building a character education program into their school. |
![](https://www.angelfire.com/ca3/veritas/images/WJCTRFW.asp) |
Why Johnny Can't
Tell Right from Wrong by William Kilpatrick examines the decline in
students' morality and ethics in the last two generations. He clearly
demonstrates why the 'values clarification' method of character education
pushed in many schools can only result in moral relativism and confusion. He
also strongly defends a return to a deliberate attempt to cultivate a clear
sense of right and wrong in our young people.
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