Education & Pedagogy

In an open letter, 19 educators in Navajo schools make recommendations for regulations to implement the Native American Languages Act. Recommendations are concerned with development of culturally sensitive curriculum and materials, teacher education, teacher certification, availability of immersion programs, school environment encouraging Native language use, program evaluation, and family and community involvement. Recommendations are also presented in Navajo. (SV)

Gender issues are not addressed in teacher education because of time constraints, the view of teaching as "a women's profession," the belief in objective gender-blind educational research, and the controversial and emotional nature of gender issues. Addresses how feminist scholarship can assist teacher educators in incorporating gender issues into teacher education. (LP)

This bibliography contains 36 annotated citations of resources on general leadership in higher education and specific leadership development activities. Topics addressed include teamwork, leadership in the academic environment, black administrators, leadership and women, adult and continuing education, departments, interinstitutional cooperation, library staff development, student affairs, mentoring, and community leadership. (MSE)

Through a combination of workshops and distance education, rural Australian middle-school teachers learned outcome-based programming, teaching, and assessment designed to improve outcomes of students experiencing educational disadvantage related to rural isolation, poverty, or aboriginality. Workplace learning, supported by in-school collegial group leaders, reduced costs associated with inservice courses. (JAT)

This response to five case studies of inclusive practices for elementary students with learning disabilities (LD) finds that the consistent result was to diminish and subordinate the role of the special education teacher, reduce the potential effectiveness of special education as a specialized instructional effort, and remove the academic press for achievement by LD students. (Author/DB)

This paper examines overall themes arising from five case studies of elementary schools implementing inclusive models for students with learning disabilities and draws implications for policy and teacher preparation. Themes concern model variations, the role of the special education teacher, and evidence that students with learning disabilities are, in fact, receiving a special education. (DB)

A comparative study that accesses the environmental knowledge of in-service classroom teachers (n=166) enrolled in the certification program at Yarmouk indicates the need for coursework in environmental sciences and environmental education. Recommends the integration of an environmental dimension into the general methodology course and subject matter of the certification program. (33 references) (MCO)

Suggests a need to change traditional content sources of population education to include population-related concepts in the area of human sexuality. Identifies the following focuses: respecting others, developing self-esteem, postponing the first pregnancy, understanding that it is possible to plan, fostering responsibility for behavior and withstanding social pressure. (MCO)

Reviews organizational approaches adopted in different countries for resource management in distance education and compares the cost structure of distance education and conventional education. Resource implications of alternative organizational approaches are briefly examined. Ireland's cooperative approach is described and cost-effective computer use in administration and in textbook production is detailed. (six references) (LAE)

Teachers are increasingly expected to employ integrated technology practices in their classrooms to help their students, but they rarely have training on how to use such practices. The article discusses the need to get integrated technology practice into preservice and inservice teacher education, especially reading and language arts. (Author/SM)

Proposes restructuring preservice teacher education programs to include the preparation of teacher researchers. Teacher educators redesigned two existing programs to include research methodology instruction. The paper presents methods of inquiry and strategies used to teach about research, offering examples of student work and evidence to support this approach to teacher preparation. (SM)

Data reveal that although the need is great, few Indian students are identified for special education services in Manitoba (Canada). Evaluation of five band-operated schools revealed problems in the development, monitoring, and operation of special education programs. Outlines five steps for improving special education services, including developing a regional service network to support local programs. (LP)

Includes "Profession's View of Agricultural Education (AE)" (Christiansen, Briers); "AE: A View from Inside the Classroom" (Pieniazek, Pieniazek); "Managing Change in AE" (Herring); "Image vs. Substance" (Shinn et al.); "AE Profession" (Smith); "Expanded Mission, Expanded Challenges for Preservice AE" (Torres, Dormody); and "Is AE Changing Too Fast?" (Weeks, Foster). (JOW)

Points out weaknesses in Salvadoran government policies, which seek to reform public education and build human capital in the interests of long-term economic development but fail to address extreme poverty and social inequality. Suggests that support for existing grass-roots economic and educational projects would help the poor and thereby diminish social and political tensions rooted in poverty. (SV)

Provides historical and theoretical context for this theme issue on education in Latin America. Discusses reorganization in state models and state-society relationships since the 1930s, the systematic withdrawal of public resources from education due to neoliberalism and internationally imposed "structural adjustment" policies, effects of social problems on educational institutions and practices, and cultural struggles in multicultural societies. (SV)