Education & Pedagogy

This open letter from the United States Assistant Secretary of Education reviews the state of public education since the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Long range goals and priorities of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services are discussed, including collaboration between professionals and between agencies. (PB)

Responses from department chairs in 18 of 19 institutions in the University Council for Vocational Education indicated that 11 believe students should be prepared for employment in training and development (T&D) positions; many find it difficult to know where students are employed after graduation; and T&D programs are far more similar than dissimilar to traditional vocational education programs. (SK)

Refutes the claims of the neoconservative critics of social studies education. Emphasizes that their work reflects the discontent with public education fostered during the Reagan administration. Analyzes their recommendations for curriculum change, and challenges their assumptions. Encourages the study of social problems as the core of social science education. (NL)

The article offers a commencement-based (as opposed to a credential-based) model of secondary education for individuals with mild mental retardation. Five model components stress process, personal experience, adult community success, circular individualized education plans, and time as the validator of program effectiveness. (Author/DB)

This paper proposes two nontraditional models for recruiting and retaining minority students in special education preservice teacher education programs. The first model is for implementation at middle and high school levels, the second for college/university levels. Both are adaptable for various programs of study. Also included are methods for model evaluation. (Author/PB)

It is the academic community's responsibility to respond to the three-pronged training needs of community health educators/promotors: traditional/content health education; health education/health promotion skills, methods, and approaches; and management and administrative skills. Contributions of the Role Delineation Project and the PRINCESS and PRECEDE models to health educator preparation are discussed. (IAH)

Criticized are the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded curriculum reforms during the post-Sputnik epoch. The parallels and contrasts between the proposals of today's NSF and those supported during the late 1950s and early 1960s are outlined. The proper role of a policymaking body in American education is recommended. (YP)

A national center for health professions education research is proposed to facilitate well-funded, peer-reviewed, and academically credible research in health professions education. The center's goal would be to allow for the testing of models to provide education grounded in sound methodology and content. (Author/MSE)

Discusses the criticisms of multicultural education. Reviews the history of multicultural education and discusses changes in its social context over the past 25 years. Explores how multicultural education can be a form of resistance to oppressive social relationships. Suggests ways of developing political resistance through education. (JS)

Explores two dichotomies that depict moral education and examines the strengths and weaknesses of the four principal orientations to moral education. Provides an integrated theory of moral education that incorporates both sides of each dichotomy providing necessary dimensions to research, theory, and practice of moral education. (Author/DB)

The University of Regina's undergraduate teacher education program offers a specialization in secondary school French teacher education. The specialization includes work in pedagogical, generic teacher education, foreign language and communication, and metalinguistic and metacognitive components, and is structured to allow both formal and experiential learning to facilitate teachers' personal and professional development. (Author/CB)

Results of a study of 18 cooperating teachers (CTs) supervising physical education student teachers (STs) from five colleges/universities in the Northwest indicated that: CTs provided minimal feedback; held few supervising conferences; and spent little time observing teaching. Through logs and weekly wrap-up reports, STs indicated desire for specific feedback on teaching. (IAH)

Improvement of K-12 teaching requires an integrated, collaborative effort between schools and faculty from arts and sciences and from education. Implementation strategies are discussed; including establishment of selected professional/clinical schools as sites for student teaching, and creation of interdisciplinary courses by a partnership of education and arts and sciences faculty. (IAH)

Results of a study of 204 elementary education majors who had taken a junior year clinical experience (either a four week half-day or a three week full-day format) suggest that a full-day clinical experience is preferred by students. Students expressed concern for more organization and coordination of learning experiences. (IAH)

Studies the role of education and its effect on the economic well-being of Mexican Americans in the border city of Laredo (Texas). Finds that while barrio residents are profoundly impressed with the importance of education, Mexican American earnings fail to keep pace with educational attainment. (AF)