Culture Wars

School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up-This title looks at controversial issues in the areas of education and the arts. Organized in four chapters, the discussions address: ``What Cultural Influences Should the United States Perpetuate?'' ``Are Diverse Traditions Fairly Represented in American Education?'' ``Is American Culture Decadent?'' and ``Should Government Enforce Cultural Values?'' Within these broad questions, a variety of opinions are expressed in timely excerpts authored by some of the country's leading pundits, including Allan Bloom, Todd Gitlin, Mortimer Adler, Camille Paglia, Tipper Gore, and John Danforth. A listing of related periodical articles is appended to each section. The book concludes with questions for further discussion, names and addresses of relevant organizations, an annotated bibliography, and a detailed index. Because the essays are not written specifically for teens, the language and ideas are often challenging despite their brevity. This well-organized look at cultural issues will be invaluable to teachers and students alike.-Marilyn Makowski, Greenwood High School, SC