Defines educational policy and its function. Discusses the social debate surrounding educational policy in Finland, as well as the goals of the Finnish educational policy. States that ultimate success in achieving these goals depends on the ability to keep social policy discussions involving education open and founded on human needs. (CH)

This publication features highlights of the major findings made by delegates to a meeting of the National Congress of Catholic Schools, held in Washington, D.C. in November, 1991. Divided into three chapters, the first chapter provides background information and explains the process by which the National Congress of Catholic Schools acts. The…

This document presents recommendations made by Tennessee's High School Advisory Task Force, with a focus on describing what students should know and be able to do after completing high school. Nine elements that are essential for schoolwide reform are identified: a core curriculum, a focused plan of study, active learning, an integrated…

School desegregation in Cleveland, Ohio, has shown that: (1) school improvements are more difficult to accomplish than biracial reassignment of students; and (2) school systems less responsive to desegregation mandates will receive more court orders. Issues for Cleveland's future include diminished court supervision, school system reorganizaton,…

The DfESs "Five-year strategy for children and learners" sets out the intentions of the Labour Government for its third term. Where necessary, its provisions will be subject to legislation in 2005. This article argues that the "Five-year strategy", like much education policy since 1997, ignores important reasons for inequality of educational…

Offers a short history of the modern alternative-education movement. Outlines two social ends sought through public-education policy. Discusses four criteria regarding the role of alternative education in shaping an equitable youth policy for public schools. (SR)

This document describes a vision for education in the state of Washington and offers a proposal for the state legislature's consideration. An article by the Governor, Booth Gardner, provides an overview of the state's vision for education, discussing the seven assumptions of school improvement, the shift from a focus on inputs to student outcomes,…

This article argues that the time has come for the development of a curriculum for the education of television audiences. Describes three goals of this curriculum: (1) the inculcation of pictorial literacy, (2) the demythification of the media, and (3) the analysis of the family context in which television viewing is received. (JDH)

Consists of two articles on the topics of (1) sexually transmitted diseases and (2) acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Yarber discusses how these topics should be taught to young people, with emphasis on health education as opposed to morality. Newschwander states the facts related to AIDS, including risks of enrolling infected students.…

Descriptive information relative to the historical background of the development of a new, uniform secondary school biology curriculum in China is provided. This curriculum, introduced in 1979, is designed to contribute to the achievement of national goals aimed at the modernization of agriculture, industry, defense, and science and technology.…

Recent statistics suggest that equal educational opportunities for many students (e.g., students who are poor, disabled, or minorities) remain elusive. To handle the growing student diversity, educators must infuse multicultural education, instruction, evaluation, and support services into the school setting. Achieving a meaningful comprehensive…

The education and socialization of immigrant children and youths is a problem for educators and policy makers around the world, particularly in developed countries. The challenge is to achieve social equality or at least equal social opportunity for minorities; the dilemma is whether the culture of these immigrants should be replaced by that of…

The institutions of the United States (and the developed world in general) are currently in a state of crisis. This is particularly true for educational institutions. As society shifts from an industrial era to a post-industrial, information era, the dominant world view is changing from one of segmentation and stasis to one that is holistic,…

The National Board of Inquiry on Schools conducted hearings in nine states to determine the extent to which equal educational opportunity has been achieved and to identify the areas in which additional efforts must be made. The study found several significant achievements and changes, but also found that inadequate funding and prejudicial…

The major findings of a seminar on "Effective Schools," sponsored by the Seattle School Board and conducted in 1982, are presented in this report. In the first four sections, research on effective schools is broadly reviewed, and then a definition is offered: an effective school is one where all students master the basic skills, seek…