Education & Pedagogy

Florida's state university system recently invested over $76 million in its education colleges. A national accrediting process based on peer review would help determine the existence of high-quality programs. NCATE (the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education), the Florida Department of Education, and the board of regents are cooperating to reduce funds required for accreditation and review activities. (MLH)

To adequately prepare effective teachers for urban schools, traditional university-based programs of teacher education need to make serious structural and content changes. This article offers 16 assertions about specific changes that are needed and maintains that, in many alternative certification programs, most of the 16 assertions are implemented. (IAH)

Reviews developments in German education since reunification. Contends that differences between the educational systems of the former German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany will result in tensions and delay full reintegration. Concludes that this process also could open the door for needed reforms in Germany's educational system. (CFR)

This study analyzed 1,468 special education directors' perceptions regarding personnel needs, quality of preparation, training needs, and administrative policies/practices for mainstreaming students with disabilities. Administrators with special education teaching experience or course work had higher levels of mainstreamed students. The highest rated training need involved collaboration between regular and special education. (Author/JDD)

Summarizes major trends in character education in U.S. classrooms, beginning with an early twentieth-century "Children's Morality Code," and progressing through 1950s moral and values education, three past decades of drug and sex education programs, and current efforts to develop valid program evaluation methods. The next step is developing a "grand theory" of character education and research to solidify it. (MLH)

Describes a model course for the study of ethics in professional preparation programs of health educators. The article reviews related literature, discusses the importance of including ethics instruction in professional preparation, and describes proposed course goals, suggesting content areas, teaching methods, and student activities. (SM)

Educators in gifted education should be involved in the School Reform Movement because of the need of gifted learners for positive changes in education and because of the potential of the field to contribute to improved education for all students. Philosophical contributions, instructional contributions, and pedagogical contributions of gifted education are examined. (Author/JDD)

Discusses how the British colonial government in Kenya used the education system to strengthen political and economic power over the African majority. Describes the unequal allocation of education revenue, selective and punitive public examinations and a racially biased school curriculum. Concludes that Europeans' need to dominate Africans politically and economically was the leading influence upon colonial education. (DK)

The results of an assessment of the education departments in four-year colleges (n=76) are presented. Changes in staff and budget for science teacher education, budgets, semester hours required in both elementary and secondary teacher education programs, average number of science teacher graduates in elementary and secondary programs, and number of science courses offered in the major disciplines are discussed. (KR)

This paper describes the historical events that have influenced the evolution of field-based experiences in preparing special education teachers, describes the state of general practice, identifies the unresolved issues and promising trends, and outlines a future research agenda for analyzing preservice special education field-based experiences. (JDD)

Describes Project SCOPE (School-College Operation in Physical Education), a college-school partnership that takes a holistic approach to improving teacher education, faculty development, and K-12 curriculum in physical education. It was implemented with no money and limited support. The article discusses the conceptual framework and explains the holistic approach. (SM)

This article provides a broad overview of several key issues and trends in education that were discussed in some of the leading professional education journals during 1990. Topics discussed include national goals for education, school restructuring, at-risk students, urban education, and reform of teacher education. (15 references) (LRW)

Discusses developments in distance education programs and considers roles for school library media specialists in distance education projects. The Star Schools Project is described, access to information and resources in new formats is considered, the Library and Information Science Distance Education consortium is explained, and directions for research are suggested. (32 references) (LRW)

Decreasing demand for industrial teachers is attributable to declining student enrollment, aging of the teaching force, budget cuts, and decreased federal aid. Better legislative support for industrial teacher education requires better ties with local schools and state departments of education, innovative local programs, and more attention to quality in terms of work experience and teacher education qualifications. (SK)

Supports the arguments in the author's earlier article in which he calls for ending the teaching of economics. Maintains that criticism of his views are based on faulty understanding of neoclassical economics. Concludes that economics cannot be value-free, and environmental concerns must be addressed in economics and social studies education. (CFR)