The "Merit vs. Diversity?" scenario dramatizes some of the social, ethical, and practical issues involved in deciding what's "fair" when a diverse group of people compete for a limited number of opportunities. Do you want to learn more about others' views on these questions? Get some background information about underlying demographic, educational and legal trends? Connect with others interested in discussing these issues? Then check out the following bibliographies.

Before you browse, you may want to refer to the unit syllabus to find out how your reading will fit into upcoming homework assignments.

If you would like to comment on the sources you find here, or if you'd like to read your classmates' comments, go to the "Bibliography" forum on our class discussion board.

Affirmative Action, the Law, and Education

BACKGROUND SOURCES
Cose, Ellis. "The Color Bind: End of Affirmative Action in College Admissions is now Being Reflected in Dearth of Minority Students; Case of Univ. of Texas Law School." Newsweek 129 (May 12, 1997): 58-60.

Reibstein, Larry. "What Color is an A? Affirmative Action in College Admissions; University of Michigan Case." Newsweek 131 (Dec 29, 1997- Jan 5, 1998): 76-77.

Sampson, Kathryn. "An Analysis of the Law and the Courts in Affirmative Action and Preferential Admissions in Higher Education." Affirmative Action and Preferential Admissions in Higher Education. Methuen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1981. 3-28.

Verhovek, Sam Howe. "In Poll, Americans Reject Means But Not Ends of Racial Diversity." New York Times (Late edition) Dec. 14, 1997: 1+ Sec. 1.

VIEWPOINTS
Chinea-Varela, Migdia. "My Life as a 'Two-Fer'." Newsweek (Dec. 26, 1988).

Gates, Henry Louis, Jr. Interview. The Progressive 62 (Jan. 1998): 30-32.

Gergen, David. "A Study in Black and White: Why Race Sensitive College Admissions Policies Work." US News and World Report 125.14 (Oct. 12, 1998): 84.

Podhoretz, Norman, John O'Sullivan, and Linda Chavez. "Is Affirmative Action on the Way Out? Should It Be?" Commentary 105 (Mar 1998): 40-42.

Pollitt, Katha. "About Race: Can We Talk? Abolish Admissions Preference for Children of Alumni." The Nation 265 (July 7, 1997): 9.

Ravich, Diane. "How Affirmative Action Harms Minorities." Forbes 160 (Nov. 17, 1997): 112.

ONLINE SOURCES
Government Documents in the News: Affirmative Action, at  http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/dn99/dn99cour.html links to legal documents related to the Hopwood v. Texas case and the University of Michigan case, the two most important recent cases on affirmative action. This site is sponsored by the University of Michigan library system.

FOR FURTHER READING
Bok, Derek and William Bowen. The Shape of the River: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Race in College Admissions. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1998.

Carter, Stephen. Reflections of an Affirmative Action Baby. New York: Basic, 1994.

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Race and Education

BACKGROUND SOURCES
Applebome, Peter. "After Years of Gains, Minority Students Start Falling Behind." New York Times (Late edition) Dec. 29, 1996: 12 Sec. 1.

Celis, William. "Bias Found Against Bright Minority Students." New York Times (Late edition.) Nov. 5, 1993: A22.

Darling-Hammond, Linda. "Unequal Opportunity: Race and Education." Brookings Review 16.2 (Spr. 1998): 28-32.

"Minorities in Public Schools: Social Context of Education." Education Digest 63 (Febr. 1998): 4-11.

"National Study Says Minority Students Doing Better in School." Jet 87 (Jan. 9, 1995): 8.

VIEWPOINTS
Custred, Glynn. "Academic Rights: When Public Education Fails, Minorities with Few Other Advantages are Particularly Hurt." National Review 49 (Sept. 15, 1997): 44+.

Hooks, Bell. "Pedagogy and Political Commitment: A Commentary." Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black. Boston: South End P, 1989.

Rich, Adrienne. "Claiming an Education." On Lies, Secrets, and Silence. New York: Norton, 1979.

ONLINE SOURCES
The Urban Education Web, [http://eric-web.tc.columbia.edu/] sponsored by the US Department of Education, includes links to articles, reports, community resources, and a variety of other resources dealing with minority groups in public education.

FOR FURTHER READING
Kozol, Jonathan. Death at an Early Age. New York: Prentice, 1969.

Hernnstein, Richard and Charles Murray. The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life. New York: Free P, 1994.

Kincloe, Joe L. et al. Measured Lies: The Bell Curve Examined. New York: St. Martin's, 1997.

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Socioeconomic Factors and Education

BACKGROUND SOURCES
Bracy, Gerald. "A Few Facts about Poverty." Phi Delta Kappan 79 (Oct. 1997): 163-164.

Lewis, Ann. "The Price of Poverty." Phi Delta Kappan 78 (Feb. 1997): 423-424.

Mitchell, Emily. "Do the Poor Deserve Bad Schools?" Time 138 (Oct. 14, 1991): 60-61.

Treadwell, Charles G. "Demographis Changes and Higher Education." Education Digest 58 (Sept. 1998): 4-30.

VIEWPOINTS
Applebone, Peter. "Better Schools, Uncertain Results." New York Times (Late edition) Mar. 16, 1997: 5 Sec. 5.

Hirsch, Ed. "Good Genes, Bad Schools." New York Times (Late edition) Oct. 29, 1994: 19.

Passell, Peter. "Money Doesn't Buy Test Scores." New York Times (Late edition) May 28, 1997: B7.

Raack, Lenaya. "How Poor Kids Really Are at Risk." Education Digest 61 (Apr. 1996): 22-26.

ONLINE SOURCES
The Children's Defense Fund [http://www.childrensdefense.org/] , a non-profit children's advocacy group headed by Marion Wright Edelman, features articles and reports on children's poverty on its web site, as well as links to other sites that deal with this topic.

The Kids Count [http://www.aecf.org] web site contains detailed economic and demographic data on children's health, education, and welfare issues. This non-profit organization is sponsored by the Annie B. Casey Foundation.

FURTHER READING
Kozol, Jonathan. Savage Inequalities. New York: Crown P, 1991.

Donmoyer, Robert and Raylene Kos. At-Risk Students: Portraits, Policies, Programs and Practices. Albany: SUNY P, 1993.

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Disabilities and Education

BACKGROUND SOURCES
Allis, Sam. "The Struggle to Pay for Special Education." Time 148 (Nov. 4, 1996): 323.

Borow, Zev. "The Learning-Disability Scam." New York 29 (March 18, 1996): 34+.

Chambers, Marcia. "An Athlete Challenges a Stealthy Rule: Learning Disabled Football Player Sues NCAA over Eligibility Standards." New York Times (Late Edition) Nov. 19, 1997: B11.

Greenhouse, Linda. "Court Says Schools Must Pay for Needs of Disabled Pupils." New York Times (Late edition) March 4, 1999: A1.

Kalb, Claudia. "A Struggle by Degrees: Learning Disabilities Controversy at Boston University." Newsweek 130 (Oct 27, 1997): 64.

Levin, Tamar. "College Gets Tougher on Verifying Learning Disabilities of Aid Applicants." New York Times (Late edition) Feb. 13, 1996: A16.

"Serving Handicapped Children: Report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation." The Education Digest 55 (Feb. 1990): 33-6.

Winerip, Michael. "Enrolled as Disabled But Ousted for Refusing Help." New York Times (Late edition) Aug. 18, 1993: A17.

VIEWPOINTS
Chinni, Dante. "A Bad IDEA: Individuals With Disabilities Education Act is Burdensome and Illogical." The Washington Monthly 28 (May 1996): 17-19.

Goldin, Allyson. "The Incoherent Brain." Harper's 296.1776 (May 1998): 55-6+.

Gubernick, Lisa and Michelle Conlin. "The Special Education Scandal." Forbes 159 (Feb. 10, 1997): 66+.

Staples, Brent. "Special Education is Not a Scandal." The New York Times Magazine Sept. 21, 1997: 64-5.

ONLINE SOURCES
Disability World [http://www.disabilityworld.org/] is a bimonthly webzine of international disability news and viewpoints, funded by the non-profit National Insittute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Browse the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related government documents at the Department of Justice's official ADA site, at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm

FURTHER READING
Cramer, Shirley C. And William Ellis. Learning Disabilities: Lifelong Issues. Baltimore: Paul H Brookes, 1996.

Lombana, Judy H. Guidance for Students with Disabilities. 2nd Ed. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, 1992.

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Giftedness and Education

BACKGROUND SOURCES
Baum, Susan. "The Gifted/Learning Disabled: A Paradox for Teachers." The Education Digest 55 (April 1990): 54-6.

Clark, Gilbert and Enid Zimmerman. "Nurturing the Arts in Programs for Gifted and Talented Students." Phi Delta Kappan 79.10 (June 1998): 747-51.

"Fair Access to Public Schools: Minority Parents Denied Information about Gifted Programs." New York Times (Late edition) May 18, 1996: 18.

Kantrowitz, Barbara. "Failing the Most Gifted Kids." Newsweek 122 (Nov. 15, 1993): 67.

Stone, Elizabeth. "Gifted Children's Programs: A Matter of Class." New York Times Magazine May 6, 1990: 48-9+.

VanTassell Baska, Joyce. "The Development of Academic Talent: A Mandate for Educational Best Practice." Phi Delta Kappan 79.10 (June 1998): 760-3.

VIEWPOINTS
Raywid, Mary Anne. "Separate Classes for the Gifted." The Education Digest 56 (Nov. 90): 68-9.

Seligman, Rachel. "A Gifted Ninth-Grade Girl Tells It Like It Is." The Education Digest 56 (March 91): 69-72.

Staples, Brent. "The Battle for Gifted Education: Case of Matt Hall School in Harlem (editorial)" New York Times (Late edition) May 3, 1997: 22.

Thorton, Bob M. "Handicapping Our Future." The National Review 47 (Sept. 25, 1995): 64-6.

ONLINE SOURCES
The ERIC Clearinghouse on Giftedness and Disabilities in Education [http://ericec.org], sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, links to research, articles, and legal documents related to gifted and learning disabled students at all levels of education.

FURTHER READING
Colangelo, Nicholas and Gary Davis. Handbook of Gifted Education. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1991.

Montgomery, Diane. Educating the Able. New York: Cassell, 1996.

Sapon-Shevin, Mara. Playing Favorites: Gifted Education and the Disruption of the Community. Albany: SUNY P, 1994.

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Returning Students and Higher Education

BACKGROUND SOURCES
Astanian, Carol. "The Changing Face of American Campuses." USA Today (Periodical) 119 (May 1991): 57-59.

Christensen, Mary Ann. "The Non-Traditional Student: Part Time, In Transition, Older . . . And Here to Stay." Adult Learning 61 (Sept./Oct. 1994): 19-21.

Hawkins, Dana and John Sides. "Older Students Make Their Mark." US News and World Report 117 (Sept. 26, 1994): 112-113.

Leslie, Connie. "The Graying of the Campus." Newsweek 111 (Jun. 6, 1988): 56.

VIEWPOINTS
Culross, Rita. "Remediation: Real Students, Real Standards." Change 28 (Nov./Dec. 1996): 50-52.

Dimond, Paul R. "A New Challenge for American Education." Daedalus 124 (Fall 1995): 119-129.

Hartley, James and Mark Trueman. "What's the Bottom Line? How Well do Mature Students do at the University?" Adult Learning: A Reader. Ed. Peter Sutherland. London: Kogan Page, 1997. 174-181.

ONLINE SOURCES
Back to College [http://www.back2college.com/] is a commercial site that offers news and resources for non-traditional, re-entry, and adult students.

FURTHER READING
Harrington, Fred Harvey. The Future of Adult Education: New Responsibilities of Colleges and Universities. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1977.

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