Education & Pedagogy

An overview and brief analysis of the Education Amendments of 1976, Public Law 94-482, is given. Includes a graph on funds authorized for vocational education for fiscal years 1978 through 1982 for basic grants, program improvement and support services, special program for the disadvantaged, consumer and homemaking education, planning (5-year plan, annual plan, evaluation), State advisory councils, national advisory council, bilingual training, and emergency assistance for renovation of facilities. (MF)

A recent study conducted at the University of Illinois on what influences college students to consider the agricultural education curriculum showed that the curriculum choice process is somewhat different for agricultural education majors than for students in the non-agricultural education group. Important influences include vocational agriculture experience, high school agriculture teacher, and knowledge of opportunities in teaching. The choice to enter is often made later in the college years. (HD)

Describes a survey involving 1,604 registered nurses, (1,573 females and 9 males) living in Hawaii, to determine their continuing education needs and preferences. It is noted that findings, part of which are presented in charts showing subjects' preferences and educational backgrounds, will help faculty plan continuing education offerings for nurses with varied educational backgrounds and living in all areas of the State. (SH)

Survey responses from 24 colleges and universities indicated that most expect to produce more continuing management-education contact hours in 1980-81 than they did in 1975-76. There is a growing demand for continuing management education, and the clients want a different teaching methodology and a higher return on their management-development dollar. More use of outside faculty personnel and more varied program content are expected. (MF)

Discusses physical exercise as an intervention strategy for counselors and teachers to meet many traditional teaching/counseling goals. In five articles explores the effects of running and jogging on health and well being, offers guidelines for exercise regimens and health education for children, and discusses an active life-style. (JAC)

The report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education, "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform," is criticized for overemphasizing human resource needs and economic utility at the expense of intellectual, moral, and spiritual learnings. Other perspectives on reform in the schools and in teacher education are discussed. (PP)

Documented training and educational activities of preservice elementary education majors (N=20) to determine what (if any) aspects of their science training contribute to developing the apprehension elementary teachers have toward science, science education, and science instruction. Results, conclusions, and implications are reported from the ethnographic methodologies employed. (JN)

Discusses the professional preparation of school library media specialists at Syracuse University using a competency-based approach, highlighting background of competency-based education, development of competency statements and curriculum, and assessment of competencies. Integration of joint competency-based program into two schools and with a more theoretical general program are explored. (EJS)

Saudi Arabia is attempting to build an indigenous skilled labor force to meet manpower needs. The system includes five secondary vocational industrial schools, the Higher Technical Institute, prevocational and vocational training centers using competency-based, mediated instructional materials, and mobile training units for isolated areas. (SK)

Discusses reform in mathematics education in Malaysia since the late sixties until early 1982, highlighting important features of the reform and main factors, including educational background and contributions to the shaping of these features. Educational problems/issues likely to influence a forthcoming reform in the wider context of educational innovation are also discussed. (Author/JN)

Describes and analyzes a decade-long effort at administrative development by which the Colombian Ministry of Education struggled to bring order to a jumble of state educational systems that were functioning in a disorganized condition of semi-anarchy. Examines the historical organizational and administrative problems associated with the public educational institution. (BRR)

Examines implications of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142). Delineates areas of conflict that might arise when the law is implemented at the school district level and proposes a strategy for developing future Federal educational policy in such a way as to reduce conflict and enhance implementation. (Author/GC)

Aptitude test scores of education majors at Florida Atlantic University who demonstrated poor writing abilities were compared to determine ability differences between those who graduated and those who did not. Graduates outscored dropouts in the five major areas tested, although both groups ranked low in comparison to the general college population. (PP)

A two-year evaluative study of a Child Parent Center Compensatory Education Program examined specific program characteristics and parent involvement as they affected achievement, locus of control, and home environment. Based on this quasi-experimental study, the program increased achievement, promoted greater feelings of control, and stimulated parent involvement in the child's education. (Author/LC)

In this century all industrialized countries have experienced an increase in their populations' educational attainments. Researchers have wondered if this coincides with increased equality of educational opportunities. Data on the French population show only small changes in the pattern of association between origins and educational certification. (Author/CS)