NOVEMBER 2001 * VOLUME 83 * NUMBER 3

COVER STORY
Gerald Coles takes a close look at the meta-analysis on which the National Reading Panel based its conclusions and raises some questions about the ideological uses of reading research.
204 Reading Taught to the Tune of the 'Scientific' Hickory Stick, by Gerald Coles

FEATURES

MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
This article is the product of a four-year project during which the panel of authors reviewed and synthesized the research related to diversity.
196 Diversity Within Unity: Essential Principles for Teaching and Learning in a Multicultural Society, by James A. Banks, Peter Cookson, Geneva Gay, Willis D. Hawley, Jacqueline Jordan Irvine, Sonia Nieto, Janet Ward Schofield, and Walter G. Stephan

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
What can we learn from such nations as England, Italy, and Sweden about effective ways to deal with our youngest citizens? This special section, for which Sally Lubeck served as guest editor, provides some answers.
213 Early Childhood Education and Care in Cross-National Perspective, by Sally Lubeck
216 Early Childhood Education and Care in England, by Sally Lubeck
226 Italian Early Care and Education: The Social Construction of Policies, Programs, and Practices, by Rebecca S. New
237 Early Care and Education Policies in Sweden: Implications for the United States, by Sharon L. Kagan and Lynda G. Hallmark
246 Starting Strong: Policy Implications for Early Childhood Education and Care in the U.S., by Michelle J. Neuman and John Bennett

THE MATH WARS
The authors take a close look at the design, marketing, and selection of mathematics materials for standards-based instruction.
255 Curricular Controversy in the Math Wars: A Battle Without Winners, by Robert E. Reys
259 Standards-Based Mathematics Curriculum Materials: A Phrase in Search of a Definition, by Paul R. Trafton, Barbara J. Reys, and Deanna G. Wasman
264 Implementing Standards: The California Mathematics Textbook Debacle, by Bill Jacob

POINTS OF VIEW
Teacher and writer Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld wonders just who the slow learners really are.
193 Oy! Education!, by Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld

For more than 20 years the Heritage Foundation has been promoting myths, and things haven't changed, George Schmidt maintains.
194 No Excuse for No Excuses, by George Schmidt

DEPARTMENTS

102 THE EDITOR'S PAGE, The Best Place to Start
103 WASHINGTON COMMENTARY, Comfort and Community, by Anne C. Lewis
105 STATELINE, Ambitious Goals Deferred, by Kathy Christie
107 TECHNOLOGY, Adobe Acrobat Mysteries, by Royal Van Horn
188 IN CANADA, Going Bananas, by Heather-jane Robertson
191 RESEARCH, Question Authority, by Gerald W. Bracey
175 COURTSIDE, A Gross Over-Order?, by Perry A. Zirkel
177 BACKTALK