Taking sides : clashing views in educational psychology / selected, edited, and with introductions and postscripts by Leonard Abbeduto.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Pt. 1. Meeting the diverse need of a diverse classroom: Are single-gender classes the only way to ensure equal educational opportunities for boys and girls? ; Should ability-level tracking be abandoned? ; Should English immersion replace bilingual education? ; Is full inclusion always the best option for children with disabilities? ; Can schools close the gap between students from different ethnic and racial backgrounds? ; Should schools try to increase students' self-esteem? ; Should moral education be part of the school curriculum? -- Pt. 2: Theories of learning and their implication for educational practice. Should schools adopt a constructivist approach to education? ; Does reinforcement facilitate learning? ; Can Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences transform educational practice? ; Will a push for standards and accountability lead to more motivated students? ; Do recent discoveries about the brain and its development have implications for classroom practice? -- Pt. 3: Effective teaching and the evaluation of learning. Is the whole language approach to reading effective? ; Is greater parental involvement at school always beneficial? ; Should schools embrace computers and technology? ; Will performance assessment lead to meaningful education reform? ; Can a zero-tolerance policy lead to safe schools? ; Should U.S. schools be evaluated against schools in other countries?

A debate-style reader designed to introduce students to controversies in educational psychology. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading educators and social commentators, reflect a variety of viewpoints and have been selected for their liveliness and substance and because of their value in a debate framework.... [It] actively develops students' critical thinking skills....