Books with author Hal Marcovitz

Public schools in America first started teaching sex education in the 1920s and yet statistics show that nearly 250,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 17 get pregnant each year. Through objective discussion, numerous direct quotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines What Are The Origins of the Sex Education Controversy? Should Sex Education Be Taught In The Home Only? Is Abstinence-Only Sex Education Effective? What Would Be The Consequences of Dropping Sex Education Classes? How Could Schools Improve Their Sex Education Classes?

Examines the issues of biological and chemical warfare, including its historical background leading up to its current and future impact on society. The Hague Peace Conventions, the Geneva Protocol, and the Chemical Weapons Convention are discussed in detail. Programs that protect the United States against biological or chemical attack are also introduced.

This popular Lucent Books series has been updated to make music of all genres even more accessible, popular and culturally relevant in the 21st century; the set focuses on the history, music, musicians, and instruments behind specific musical styles.; The first official music videos aired in the 1970s, but the seeds for making music something more than a pleasure for the ears were planted decades earlier. This book covers the birth of the music video, starting in the 1920s and 1930s when the first great movie musicals were produced, then details how MTV revolutionized the industry by making the film production as important as song production. The author also explains the various music video styles and differences in production value. Concluding chapters highlight the Internet video sensations of today and the interactive features that will likely characterize the genre tomorrow.; This new edition of the popular Lucent Books series has been updated to make music of all genres even more accessible, popular and culturally relevant in the 21st century. The set focuses on the history, music, musicians, and instruments behind specific musical styles -- from blues to indie rock to rap and more. It also addresses music videos, the advent of digital music stores and new portable digital delivery systems. Each title provides a historical overview of the development of a specific music genre; explores the roots and influences of the genre and the key components that are definitive of the style; discusses the pioneers of the music; and considers the changes the genre has undergone from its inception to its present status on the world scene. Informative sidebars, a glossary of music terms, a selective discography, an annotated bibliography, and a subject index provide readers with additional tools for discussion and research.

Statistics show that 3,200 couples file for divorce every day in the United States, which clearly has an impact on the strength of families. Young people feel the painthe Gallup Organization has found that 75 percent of teenagers between 13 and 17 believe divorce is too easy to get. This volume examines the influences parents and families play in the lives of young people in the United States.

In 1836, a small group of Texan settlers fighting for their freedom from Mexico fortified an old Spanish mission near the village of San Antonio de Béxar. Surrounded and badly outnumbered by a larger Mexican army, the defenders of the Alamo vowed to fight rather than surrender. Their sacrifice allowed other Texans the opportunity to organize and prepare their army to face the Mexicans, and win freedom for Texas at the Battle of San Jacinto six weeks later. Today the Alamo remains a shrine to liberty, and a symbol of courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds.

The issue of slavery had divided the nation for decades, but problems came to a head after the election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860. Fearing that Lincoln would attempt to abolish slavery, the legislatures of 11 southern states voted to withdraw from the United States and create a new nation, the Confederate States of America. This would result in four bloody years of Civil War in which more than 600,000 Americans were killed. The Confederacy adopted several flags between 1861 and 1865; the best known today is the battle flag, which featured a blue saltire cross on a red background. To some people, the Confederate flag is a proud symbol of Southern heritage and bravery. Others, however, view the Confederate flag as a symbol that represents the enslavement and oppression of African Americans. As a result, the Confederate flag is among the most controversial of American symbols.