Education & Pedagogy

Patients with chronic illness account for three-fourths of United States' health-care expenditures, and considerable growth in these costs is likely as the population ages. However, management of chronic illness has received little attention in either undergraduate or graduate medical education. Competencies required to develop curricula in management of chronic illness are described. (Author/MSE)

Reprints the California State Board of Education's resolution to endorse Character Counts! Week. Asserts that all educators are obliged to awaken youth to the moral and ethical values that build a fundamental strength of character. Identifies elements of character that are embedded in all curriculum frameworks. (MJP)

Advances a vigorous argument for teaching the basic principles of liberal democracy that transcend countries, cultures, and historical eras. Articulates a vision of citizenship education that uses historical examples of totalitarian abuses to emphasize issues of accountability and morality. Discusses ways to make civic education real and relevant. (MJP)

Presents conclusions from the Independent Commission on Environmental Education (ICEE) on the quality of environmental education teaching materials in the United States. ICEE strongly endorsed environmental education as an important subject to which teachers are the key to its success. Although many materials are excellent and others are flawed by superficiality, acquisition of knowledge rather than promotion of proenvironmental behavior should be the primary goal. (PVD)

Describes an art education program that connects children and youth to the historical and contemporary issues associated with Yellowstone National Park. Originally conceived as a one-year celebration, the project has grown into a juried exhibit showcasing student art and writing which responds to Yellowstone resource themes and issues. (MJP)

Explains the concept of a topic study, how it meets the needs of teachers seeking to integrate their teaching, and how it is especially well suited for environmental education. Outlines curriculum for a topic study on the greenhouse effect and ozone layer depletion. (DDR)

Advocates providing sexuality and AIDS education in a way that helps adolescents explore the ethical meaning of sexual behavior. Presents principles for Rest's model of moral development, which describes four internal processes that produce moral behavior, as one example of an ethical framework that could inform sexuality and AIDS education curricula. (RJM)

Describes an environmental workshop with three goals: (1) to develop a more grounded and personal understanding in students of extinction; (2) to draw attention to their specific life contexts while making connections between local and global phenomena; and (3) to critically examine anthropocentrism. Highlights efforts to disrupt strictly scientific ways of understanding extinction. Contains 23 references. (PVD)

Provides general information on the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program. Discusses the program design and development, science and education, the GLOBE computer and communications systems, student-scientist partnerships, and explains how to join the GLOBE program. (DDR)

Examines quantitative studies, especially small-scale statistical probes, which have become the dominant mode of inquiry in higher education, but criticisms of this approach are mounting. Describes the presuppositions of this prevailing mode, and several strands of criticism, noting how education and social research have changed over four decades. Offers suggestions for improving higher education research. (Author/MSE)

Discusses the need to redesign the preservice training in educational administration to include more content and practice in issues related to special education, such as: (1) attitudes; (2) laws/regulations; (3) instructional/curricular issues; and (4) staff/family/community interaction. Ways to incorporate special education into preservice administrator training are examined. (Author/CR)

Art is increasingly being accepted as an essential subject within general education. Article discusses what constitutes substantive student learning in art, emerging careers in the visual arts, and the principal's responsibility to hire well- qualified, caring art teachers. Students deprived of regular art study often lack basic appreciation for art and its contributions to society. (13 references) (MLH)

Reports on an experimental attempt to provide an appropriate public education for all children without the disadvantages of special education. The program, Project Breakthrough, provides services in the mainstream using the regular education initiative without categorizing children. Staff collaborate to help students based on need rather than on other guidelines. (RJM)

A Missouri study of 669 business education teachers (50% response) and a North Carolina study of 82 (59% response) found that block scheduling is viewed positively by most teachers, but it requires changes in planning and use of a wider variety of teaching techniques. (SK)

Introduces an issue devoted to teaching portfolios in teacher education. The articles present initial research and reflections on the use of portfolios and share lessons learned through practice. They address such issues as the purposes of portfolios in teacher education; portfolio organization, management, and evaluation; and strengths and weaknesses of using portfolios to assess teaching. (SM)