Suchergebnisse

This study is aimed at exploring how teacher preparation programs in Taiwan—both traditional and alternative— prepare teachers for teaching controversial public issues specific to Taiwan (e. g., national identity, sovereignty, and ethnic issues). Using a case study design, this study documents six social studies teachers' readiness and attitudes about whether to teach controversial public issues or not. Findings illuminate that 1) teachers' attitudes and readiness have been influenced by their teacher preparation programs (both traditional and alternative); 2) teachers from different teacher education programs contribute to their curricular-instructional decision making for teaching controversial public issues differently.

This study explores teachers' personal practical knowledge and curricular-instructional gatekeeping as they relate to the teaching of controversial issues in public elementary school settings, particularly the issue of immigration. The study took place in the urban setting of Houston and, using a case study design, documented how three elementary school teachers made curricular-instructional decisions by making use of their personal practical knowledge. Findings illuminate that personal practical knowledge plays a role in teacher's curricular-instructional gate keeping in socially divisive contexts. And, the findings indicate that these three elementary school teachers make curricular-instructional decisions to effectively address controversial public issues in their classrooms through curriculum choosing, assignments creating, and conflict dialogue building.

Abstract
The purpose of this article was to analyze the amendment of Fugitive Offenders Ordinance & Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance, which caused widespread controversy in Hong Kong recently. This amendment stemmed from a murder case that occurred in Taiwan, which led the Hong Kong government to decide to fill the legal loopholes in the extradition law. The amendment abolished the prohibition of extradition of China and made the fundamental changes to the vetting procedure for extradition. However, based on the question to the judicial environment in China and the unequal relationship between Hong Kong and China, many Hong Kong people believed that the amendment would seriously threaten their personal safety. The amendment mattered important because people it affected were not only Hong Kong citizens, but also foreigners staying in Hong Kong. And as an important international financial center, the influence of Hong Kong couldn't be underestimated. Therefore, the amendment had triggered a high degree of international concern. This article will analyze the contents of the amendment and the supports and the oppositions to clarify the dispute and discuss whether the amendment is good or bad.

This study explores how history teachers in Taiwan make curricular decisions while engaging controversial public issues. The main political controversies discussed in Taiwanese society center on the relationship between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. This study documents how four social studies teachers formulate their curricular decisions through the intersecting lenses of professional knowledge and personal beliefs. Findings illuminate the role of personal experience and belief in teacher's curricular-instructional gatekeeping in socially divisive contexts. In sum, this study helps as understand the relationship between a teacher's own imaginative worldview, sense of personal and professional identity, and their classroom teaching practices.

This study is aimed at exploring public school in- and pre-service teachers' conception, understanding and practice of citizenship in the United States. Using a case study design, this study documents how two public school in- and pre-service teachers as immigrants in the Midwest, the United States conceptualize and practise citizenship in their daily lives. The findings indicated social isolation and civic disengagement are the main factors impacting their development of citizenship. In addition, the findings illustrated immigrant in- and pre-service teachers take different actions for citizenship at their personal and professional level than non-immigrant in- and pre-service teachers.

The Treaty of Lisbon has brought remarkable changes and innovations to the European Union. As far as the Council of Ministers of the European Union ("the Council" hereinafter) is concerned, there are two significant innovations: double qualified majority voting and new rotating Presidency scheme, which are considered to make the working of the Council more efficiently, stably and consistently. With the modification relating to other key institutions, the Commission and the European Parliament, and with certain procedures being re-codified, the power of the Council varies accordingly, where the inter-institutional balance counts for more research. As the Council is one of the co-legislatures of the Union, the legislative function of it would be probably influenced, positively or negatively, by the internal innovations and the inter-institutional re-balance. Has the legislative function of the Council been reinforced or not? How could the Council better reach its functional goal designed by the Treaties' drafter? How to evaluate the Council's evolution after Lisbon Treaty in the light of European integration? This thesis is attempting to find the answers by analyzing two main internal innovations and inter-institutional re-balance thereinafter.

Abstract
Identity Politics and Popular Culture in Taiwan: A Sajiao Generation, HSIN-I Sydney Yueh (2016) 1st ed., Lexington Books, 222 pp., ISBN: 9781498510325, Hardback, $85.00 (£54.95); ISBN: 9781498510332, eBook, $80.50 (£54.95)
Rewriting History in Manga: Stories for the Nation, Nissim Otmazgin and Rebecca Suter (EDS) (2016) 1st ed., New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 208 pp., ISBN: 9781137554789, h/bk, $99.99; ISBN: 9781137551436, electronic, $79.99
Idols and Celebrity in Japanese Media Culture, Patrick W. Galbraith and Jason Karlin (EDS) (2012) 1st ed., New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 239 pp., ISBN: 9780230298309, h/bk, $100,00; ISBN: 9781349334452, p/bk, $95,00; Electronic ISBN: 9781137283788, $79,99