Education & Pedagogy

The French ideal of comprehensive secondary education was based on a notion of equal educational opportunity through standardized schooling that was becoming politically outmoded as it was being implemented. Plans for truly comprehensive lower secondary education have not been very significant, and the comprehensive schools for students from 11-15 have lost their central position. (MSE)

Two reports on higher education in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are the basis for an examination of the potential and problems of higher education in developing nations in the southern hemisphere. Ways to improve higher education in these areas using north-south university cooperation are suggested. (Author/MSE)

From a holistic, iconoclastic point of view, the article reviews dominant forces of the century and the state of agricultural education in agricultural colleges, public schools, and extension. States four imperatives for the future: focus on people, address the leadership crisis, recapture a creative role for science and technology, and reduce ideological rigidities. (SK)

Evaluates technical secondary education in Togo and Cameroon from the market perspective, using tracer study data. To help overcome difficulties in finding employment after training, many individuals secure work in the low-paying informal sector. One solution is to stimulate and enhance the role of informal training through apprentice training centers. (six references) (MLH)

A Delphi of 22 professors of adult education obtained high consensus on the use of technology, research methodology, and business/industry relationships with continuing higher education (CHE). Failure to agree on a sharply defined research future for CHE and poor prospects for external funding were identified as problems. (SK)

Survey of 105 cooperative education graduates (56 percent) and 276 non-co-op graduates (52 percent) of Lehman College tested theoretical model that showed cooperative education is valuable program in terms of monetary rewards to students. Results showed that co-op students received relative increase in wage rates, indicating that co-op brings inexperienced students up to level of non-co-op counterparts. (JOW)

A study of 135 published articles describing continuing medical education programs and program evaluation was undertaken to review the state of the literature between 1984 and 1988. Results suggest that research in the field of continuing medical education is expanding and that programs have an impact on physician performance. (JOW)

A 1988 Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) study of the accreditation process among 480 nationally accredited institutions found that of 279 respondents, 97 percent said that quality of continuing medical education had some or great impact and 91 percent indicated that discussions with ACCME staff was important. Of least impact was requirement for interim reports (62 percent). (JOW)

Discusses sex bias and stereotyping in society, focusing on one university professor's decision to educate her children at home after experiencing sexism in the schools. Her experiences illuminate needed changes in society. Teacher education must address teachers' ability to change existing attitudes and make children aware of sex bias. (SM)

The article reviews educational rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities in the former German Democratic Republic. The paper describes the education system, the health and welfare services, the nature and organization of special education services, integration, training of special educators, and effects of political changes in the country. (Author/DB)

Discusses diversity in educational reform and U.S. teacher education. The article presents distinctive theoretical and methodological approaches from various U.S. teacher education programs, noting most of them focused on diversity before the school reform movement began. Teachers are encouraged to devote themselves to teaching as a pre- and in-service enterprise. (SM)

Reported is a study that examined differences among three elementary school science preservice teacher preparation course sequences with respect to three variables: understanding the nature of science, attitudes toward science, and attitudes toward science teaching. Suggestions and implications for preservice science teacher education are discussed. (CW)

Bioscience education in optometric professional programs must be expanded in scope, raised to a higher level of academic rigor, and strengthened with new faculty and institutional learning resources. However, no single route of curriculum reform will guarantee successful innovation in the basic bioscience education of optometrists; several challenges must be met. (MSE)

This special issue includes 14 articles on tech prep in Wisconsin, including a definition of tech prep and its implementation in a rural community; issues surrounding tech prep and why business and industry support it; the next level of articulation that must be reached; recommendations for implementing occupational options; and the dual credit conundrum. (JOW)

Examined the "learning-to-teach" process in Portland State University's alternative teacher education program by observing and interviewing six student teachers who identified the source of influence for each recorded teaching behavior. Results indicated a strong relationship between teacher education program design and influences on preservice teachers' professional development. (SM)