Education & Pedagogy

The retired Procter & Gamble corporate leader and member of the Committee for Economic Development (CED) discusses the crisis in the American education system and his efforts for reform. Subjects covered include implications for business and the nation, business and federal reform initiatives, and the mandate for community-wide involvement. (AF)

A shortage of American engineering graduate students, particularly minorities and women, has resulted in the increasing award of research and graduate assistantships to foreign students. The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering (GEM) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are offering financial encouragement for graduate study in engineering. (AF)

California's sometimes controversial efforts to keep Hispanic students in school and interested in college education include tutoring programs, financial aid, curriculum development, partnerships between school districts and higher education institutions, Spanish-language and Hispanic-oriented recruitment and encouragement efforts, and transfer of talented students. (MSE)

Examines a "Forbes" cover story on educational expenditures that poses questions related to three current research guidelines for educational finance: adequacy, equity, and efficiency. Different "production functions" must be sought for children of differing family backgrounds. Without adequate education, the world's armies, trade, currency, and financial institutions will collapse! Includes 12 references. (MLH)

Uses Colombian data to examine the impact on equity if ability, rather than willingness to pay private school costs, determined which secondary school graduates enter postsecondary education. Results show that individuals from lower socioeconomic strata would gain by this reform mechanism, but that the proportion of female students would decline. Includes three tables and seven references. (MLH)

Describes Technical Assistance Centers established by the Virginia Department of Education to provide support services to preschool professionals throughout the state. Technical assistance--provided only at the request of the person who will receive it--includes needs assessments, information services, library services, on- and off-site consultations, small group workshops, and regional seminars. (JHZ)

The Sensory Impaired Home Intervention (SKI*HI) Model provides services for rural, hearing impaired children at an average annual cost of $1,400 per child. Weekly home visits are provided by nearby or local part time parent advisors, thus minimizing travel costs and eliminating employment problems associated with long travel hours. (JHZ)

Examines a study which determined and compared community college occupational program graduates' and leavers' views on actual and optimal amounts of general education. Indicates that the degree and certificate students had taken proportionately more general education courses than was required by the college or than they considered optimal. (DMM)

Provides historical background on education for research librarianship, and reports the findings of the Council on Library Resources as to necessary skills for research librarians. A program at the University of Michigan which is modeled on these findings is described and evaluated. (CLB)

Explains two factors that influence economic education: state mandates and teacher background. Gives an overview of a typical one-semester economics course and teacher ranking of course goals. Cites research showing that students' average economic understanding increases six percent after economics instruction. Concludes that although states are requiring more economics the learning outcomes are poor. (GG)

Presents results of a survey that was conducted to examine the use of computers in the instructional process of Australian distance education. Highlights include computer-managed learning; computer-marked tests; computer-aided learning; expert systems; and relationships between the type of computer usage, the instructors' expectations, and software acquisition. (seven references) (LRW)

Discusses the objectives and describes the curriculum components of the curriculum guidelines for initial programs for school library media specialists approved by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. A folio (matrix) that may be used to report evidence of compliance with these guidelines for accreditation purposes is provided. (CLB)

This article contains an expert witness's report, given in a court complaint filed by a child who had been injured in a physical education activity which involved running backwards. Issues include physical education guidelines, teacher knowledge of student ability, and suitability of the surface upon which the activity occurred. (IAH)

Provides a case study on the introduction of political education at Repton, an English public school, from 1916-1918. Discusses the origins, progress, major supporters and opponents, and eventual demise of political education at Repton. Concludes with a discussion on the relationship among political education, liberal idealism, and patriotic militarism. (RW)

A 10-year comparison of graduates from 4- and 5-year teacher education programs reveals that 5-year graduates enter teaching at higher rates and stay in teaching longer. They are happier with their careers, judge their teacher preparation as better, and rate their teaching abilities higher than do their 4-year counterparts. (IAH)