Education & Pedagogy

Explores the common law-bill of rights debate in Australia and the probable impacts of extending constitutional and statutory rights to the educational system. Closely examined are compulsory education, the courts' role, children's rights, and the law and education interface, with reference to equality and quality issues in the United States. Lists 10 references. (MLH)

Studies of time needed for initial curriculum-based measurement (CBM) training and classroom use, administration of CBM tasks, measurement schedules, and teacher-selected independent variables among special education resource teachers (N=10) indicated that several factors can increase teacher efficiency in CBM and decrease the time initially needed to implement direct and frequent CBM. (Author/CB)

To examine the hypothesis that alternative routes to teacher certification are more likely than traditional routes to recruit successful urban school teachers, beliefs and practices of 45 secondary English and mathematics novice teachers from both routes were studied. Findings confirm the importance of teacher sensitivity to urban multicultural environments. (SLD)

Five texts by Brian L. Fife (1992), Chester E. Finn and Theodor Rebarber (1992), John Godar (1990), Nathan Rutstein (1992), and Yael Sharan and Shlomo Sharan (1992) on cultural diversity and education reform emphasize the importance of cooperation, administrative decentralization, the need for critical thinking, values that provide common ground, and the importance of teacher empowerment. (SLD)

Develops failure indices and analyzes student teacher failure through snapshots of individuals unable to fulfill either their personal and professional expectations and/or those of their teacher preparation program. Research at three university sites found several relevant factors (age and gender distribution, poor interpersonal skills, inappropriate placements, and poor collegiality). (SM)

Asserts that, although there is widespread agreement that civic education is a worthy educational goal, there is little agreement about its content or appropriate instructional methods. Maintains that effective moral education must involve discussion of substantive civic-moral issues and consideration of moral alternatives. Recommends using the new social contract approach of John Rawls. (CFR)

Reports on a study by 20 Chinese higher education institutions about educational finance. Compares the relationship between educational investment and per capita national income in 38 market economies and 3 centrally planned economies. Provides a formula that indicates the rate of increased funding necessary for educational reform in China. (CFR)

Identifies and analyzes factors within and without the University of Alberta that impeded the development of teacher education programs there prior to 1942. Concludes that eventually the university prevailed against the will of the provincial government, establishing that the knowledge and competence for determining the configuration of the university rests within that institution. (KS)

This paper suggests that a play-based environment (rather than the teacher-directed activities more typical of special education) is the most natural instructional context for young children with severe disabilities. Utilization of best practices in the fields of early childhood education, early childhood special education, and education of students with severe disabilities is recommended. (DB)

Focuses on issues relevant to educating homeless adolescents, including barriers to education, historical trends in homelessness, and reasons adolescents become homeless. The unique problems of this group, such as victimization and street life, are discussed with implications for educators. Recommendations are made for program and policy in this area. (SLD)

Smelzer's book deals with the institutional provision of education, rather than education as in and of society, arguing that the relative strength of competing interest groups concerned with popular education determined how rapidly a state-controlled system came to win out over a denominational one in England. (SLD)

Studies reasons undereducated adults decide not to participate in adult education with 12 female and 8 male (18 African American and 2 white) adults interviewed in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania). Memories of early schooling were a powerful factor affecting the decision. Adult education methodology can benefit greatly from research into early schooling. (SLD)

Contends lack of appropriate instructional materials and demands of studio art production may keep some teachers from incorporating art history and art appreciation into secondary art education courses. Presents two lesson plans focusing on art from European Renaissance period. Concludes that the integration of art history, criticism, and production provides all students with opportunities for success in art education. (CFR)

The president of the Association for the Study of Higher Education identifies four powerful forces causing disarray and turbulence in higher education: (1) increasing gender equality, (2) increasing globalism, (3) increasing multiculturalism, and (4) expanding technology. It is concluded that higher education needs to gather its forces, shift its perspectives, and move toward change. (MSE)

Analyzes a policy issue involving British government/mass media effort to ridicule progressive education. The analysis draws on the experience of a primary school portrayed in a current affairs television program as glorifying progressive educational practices. The central government employed the language of myth, via the media, to create a public discourse designed to win votes in the forthcoming election. (MLH)