The Human Lives Behind the Labels: The Global Sweatshop, Nike and the Race to the Bottom
By Bill Bigelow
The lead article in a Rethinking Schools special report about the international exploitation of low-wage workers, many of them children, and how teachers are bringing this issue to life in their classrooms.
Facts on the Global Sweatshop
Some basic definitions and statistics on the global exploitation of labor by large corporations.
Child Labor/Global Sweatshop: Making a Difference Project
A handout given to students by teacher Bill Bigelow describing their final project on these topics.
Global Sweatshop Resources
Compiled by Bill Bigelow
A collection of references, contact addresses, and World Wide Web listings for more information on global sweatshops.
Taking Action Against Disney
By Steven Friedman
The story of one teacher and his students who organized a protest against the Walt Disney Co.'s use of low-wage labor.
Children Can Be Active Citizens of the World
Excerpts from a speech by Craig Kielburger, a student from Canada who has been active in building a campaign against child labor, at the 1996 convention of the American Federation of Teachers.
A New Vision of Teacher Unionism
By Bob Peterson
NEA President Bob Chase recently called for teacher unions to shift their priorities and take more responsibility for the quality of teachers and learning environments. This angered some Wisconsin teacher union leaders, who feared he was playing into the hands of anti-union forces. Coverage of the controversy, and thoughts on the emerging "social justice" vision of teachers as union members.
Chase is Attacked
Text of two critical letters to Bob Chase from Wisconsin teacher union leaders.
Chase Responds
Text of NEA President Bob Chase's response.
Standards and Funding: Putting Resources Where the Promises Are
By Stan Karp
A look at the many issues raised by the growing standards movement. Can it become a mechanism for driving resources to schools that need them most? Or will it narrow the education agenda in the United States and leave poor children even further behind?
How Our Schools Could Be: Standards, Top-Down Mandates, and Grass-Roots Communities
By Deborah Meier
Excerpts from Meier's essay in the 1997 book "Transforming Public Education," in which she explores the effect that top-down reforms have on the development of vibrant schools.
The Loss of Paulo Freire, 1921-1997
Editorial
Splits Widen Within Wisconsin Voucher Movement
Barbara Miner
The issue of whether state money should fund religious schools has revealed cracks in the support for Wisconsin's school-voucher program.
Two Powerful Films on Racism
By Larry Miller
Reviews of "Rosewood" and "Black Wall Street: A Lost Dream"
