On Common Ground: A House Divided

An excellent 15-part series on civics and government education designed to supplement junior high and high school curriculum, each 30-minute volume of On Common Ground uses real life situations and applications to focus on different aspects of government, such as the rule of law, separation of powers, bill of rights, voting, and civil liberties. In Volume 11, A House Divided, the viewer explores the issues surrounding a tight city council race between an incumbent and a challenger, while also getting a brief overview of voting rights in America. Produced by the Departments of Education in California, New York, and Florida, as well as the Department of Justice, and the National Immigration and Naturalization Service, the series has been correlated with numerous standards based competencies and social science frameworks, presenting information in an engaging manner that isn't "dumbed down" for students, yet is concise enough to hold their attention. A welcome addition for a civics curriculum, this is highly recommended. Other titles in the series include: Domino Effect, Like Taking Candy from a Baby, For the Greater Good, A Delicate Balance, Rules of the Game, and Hidden Agenda. An accompanying teacher's guide contains a review of the video contents, questions and exercises, vocabulary, and suggestions for further study and research. Student workbooks and other supplementary text materials are also available at additional cost. Highly recommended Aud: J, H. (L. Stevens)