A brief but comprehensive look at the emotionally charged issues of bilingualism and bilingual education. The sometimes rancorous debate between monolingual advocates and minority rights groups is highlighted, with statements from members on both sides and an examination of the effects that ``Official English'' legislation has had in certain states. Divergent approaches to bilingual education are discussed in some detail, along with the often nebulous political considerations that favor funding one program over another. But although the book is balanced and well researched, Harlan doesn't capture the emotional side of this hotly debated issue; her overly academic approach favors ``straight'' facts (listings of the states that have passed Official English legislation, for example) over personal accounts that would help substantiate the case for either side. Stock photos of immigrants attaining citizenship and children in class don't make up for the dryness of the text. Still, useful. Source notes; bibliography; index. (Nonfiction. 12+)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1991
ISBN: 0-531-13001-0
Page Count: 128
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
Twenty-two classic stories, poems, and reminiscences celebrating the sea's danger and grandeur, anchored by selections as familiar as Matthew Arnold's ``Dover Beach'' and Stephen Crane's ``Open Boat,'' as diverse as Belloc's account of the destruction of the Spanish Armada and Heyerdahl's encounters with sharks while floating across the Pacific on Kon-Tiki, as exciting as Joshua Slocum's solo battle with wind and wave off Cape Horn. Tall ships sail again in dramatic, sharply reproduced paintings (25 in color), engravings, and early photos, mostly from the last century. Even readers who believe that water belongs in a cup will have sea legs after a voyage through this first-rate collection. Large, useful glossary of nautical terms. (Nonfiction. 12+)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-8478-1578-1
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Rizzoli
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1992
Computers play chess, translate from Japanese into English and vice versa, recognize spoken words, diagnose illnesses—but are they intelligent? Well, yes and no, says the author (a Carnegie Mellon professor), who provides an overview of the basic components of an artificial intelligence system, views of early pioneers in the field, and examples of applications. Any new book on this rapidly changing, inadequately covered area is timely; but this one—though careful and thorough—is less than lively and often seems to be describing topics rather than exploring the real material. For example, the Turing test (human observers guess whether a person or machine is responding to inputs) is outlined, but examples of the near-successes (and some of the hilarious failures) would have illuminated the topic. Similarly, the difference between a heuristic and an analytical approach in expert systems is never made clear; just how a human interacts with one could also have been clarified with examples. Well- annotated list of books for further reading (all adult); glossary. Photo insert & index not seen. (Nonfiction. 12+)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-531-12537-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
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