Habits of Mind

"In Habits of Mind, Melinda Fine cuts through the opaque rhetoric of public discourse about education to reveal the complex, difficult, ambiguous tensions that are central to developing a truly multicultural society and to the teaching of 'difference' in schools. A strong and penetrating piece of work, useful for practitioners, scholars, and policy makers."-Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, professor, Harvard University"The forces and counterforces that impact moral education can undermine the best-intAnded plans. This book must be read by all educators who are struggling with these issues."-Joseph A. Fernandez, former schools chancellor, New York City Public Schools; president and CEO, School Improvement Services, Inc. ; president, The Council of the Great City Schools. Explores the politics and practice of programs that foster moral thinking and civic responsibility-highlighting the acclaimed and controversial Facing History and Ourselves (FHAO) curriculum, which uses study of the Holocaust to help students reflect on contemporary issues of racism, violence, intolerance, and prejudice.

Introduction: Fostering Democratic Habits of Mind.

CLASSROOM PORTRAITS.

``What Makes You You?''

``We Don't Believe Everything that We Hear''.

``Confronting What Is Hard to Think About''.

PUBLIC DEBATES.

Visions in Conflict.

The Fight Against Critical Moral Education.

Conclusion: Educating for Democracy.