Charting a Course: A Guide to the Excellence Movement in Education.

Overview & Synopsis

Together in one volume are the essential points of nine national education reports that are most often referred to and discussed, plus a review of a report concerning vocational education. Chapters present and synthesize the major findings and recommendations of the national reports, according to the area of focus--goals and instruction, for example. Listed in order of their publication are the reports discussed: (1) "The Paideia Proposal" (Adler); (2) "A Nation at Risk" (National Commission on Excellence in Education); (3) "Action for Excellence" (Task Force on Education for Economic Growth); (4) "Academic Preparation for College" (College Board); (5) "Making the Grade" (Twentieth Century Fund Task Force on Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Policy); (6) "High School: A Report on Secondary Education in America" (Carnegie Foundation); (7) "Educating Americans for the 21st Century" (National Science Board Commission); (8) "A Place Called School" (Goodlad); (9) "Horace's Compromise: The Dilemma of the American High School" (Sizer); and (10) "Educating for Tomorrow's Jobs" (National Research Council). Following these are two short observations from other writers (Robert Hampel, Marshall Smith and Lawrence Stedman) about the education reports. The Council for Basic Education reflects on its position on education issues in the concluding chapter of the volume. The appendix presents how the reports were put together, by whom, how long they were in preparation, the method of inquiry used, and the release date of each report. Directions are provided for ordering copies of the reports reviewed. (MLF)