In interviews, urban African American students (Grades 1-8) were asked to compare the memorization of noncontroversial information with the learning and discussion of information designed to help students develop personal stances on controversial matters. Younger students did not clearly see one curriculum as more fair. Older students, more so than younger students, saw collaborative inquiry about controversial topics as fair and as likely to foster motivation. They also more strongly agreed that school should foster motivation and understanding, and they valued memorizing less than did younger students. That is, older students' views resembled the view of critics who argue that schools place undue emphasis on "fixed facts and skills to be acquired" (J. I. Goodlad, 1984, p. 209). Possible roles of student voice in curricula matters are noted. This is a study of grade differences in students' evaluations of the fairness of two different curricula and of certain purposes such curricula might serve. John Dewey (1938) indicated the importance of asking students about these matters when he emphasized that students should be involved in the formation of the purposes that govern their schooling. The need to consider the fairness of curricular practices and educational purposes was suggested by John Rawls (1971). In A Theory of Justice, he argued that a fair society should secure the development and expression of individual capacities. Rawls held that this was more effectively secured with complex tasks than with simple ones. McNeil (1986), on the other hand, reported that high school students evaluated history teachers as fair when they reduced the complexity of the subject to lists of simple, Special Note. I would like to acknowledge the professional support and, most importantly, the friendship of John Nicholls. Although many will remember John's work, I will most cherish his friendship.-J.
A total of 130 African American students in Grades 4 through 8 were interviewed about the merits and educational consequences of adopting the philosophies of integrationism and nationalism. Simplified presentations of the perspectives of Shelby Steele and Malcolm X were used to represent these philosophies. The students generally responded positively to the communal aspect of Malcolm X's position and Steele 's suggestion that no grudges should be heldforpast injustices by Whites. Students believed that adopting a particular philosophy would influence an individual's orientation toward learning and motivation for school. Overall, students believed that persons who adopted the philosophy of Malcolm X would be more motivated to do schoolwork and more willing to collaborate with classmates in learning. Students, however, tended to expect more positive consequences from the philosophy they preferred. Older students, more than younger ones, rejected the notion that teachers should promote one particular philosophy over the other
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.