Schools and business must unite to make all the changes needed to ensure the success of all children. Social change, particularly the increase in single-parent families, has resulted in more children being born at risk of school failure. Most early childhood education reform initiatives have been piecemeal and have lacked a true understanding of…

This newsletter consists of two parts, the first dealing with issues common to many European countries, and the second with reports from twelve individual countries. Ten of the fourteen articles are written in English and the remainder in French. The first section consists of reports on two conferences of European educational administrators. Among…

This historical review concludes that, for the last decade, Danish education policies have been influenced by a minority conservative coalition government and in important ways, have been inspired by British and U.S. policy. This has included demand for user input into instruction, increased institutional autonomy, and evaluation of teaching to…

The panel provides an overview of the factors most influential in shaping the American high school as it exists today and recommends (1) replacing the comprehensive high school and providing comprehensive education; (2) establishing participatory education involving adolescents and other interested adults in the community; (3) establishing small,…

Analyzes the introduction and development of comprehensive education in the west of Scotland from 1965-80. Examines curriculum development, the role of the advisory service, the contribution of in-service training, and the ability grouping of students. Concludes that the efforts to help teachers with the transition had mixed results. (KS)

Describes the integrated comprehensive school (ICS) in Germany, where, as of 1988, 90 percent of all students attended traditional schools. Traces the history of comprehensive schools in Germany and examines their philosophy and objectives. States comprehensive schooling cannot create equal social entitlements but can encourage all students to…

One of the most important educational reforms related to secondary education in Taiwan is the planning of comprehensive high schools. The impetus for their establishment has come from several sources, including increased educational alternatives, integration of academic and vocational education resources to upgrade the quality of education, the…

Einstein, translated into a philosophy of education, views the factors governing man's qualities--his genes, his parents, his neighborhood, his church, his country, his world--as relative forces in his development, susceptible to infinite growth, and depending upon various combinations of experience. These experiences, in turn, depend upon nature…

Examines the tensions created between public demands for curriculum changes and the schools' internal needs. Reports a case study on the implementation of a core curriculum in an English comprehensive school. Focuses on the work of the curriculum committee and the role of the principal. Assesses successes and failures of the project. (RW)

Educational reforms and the move toward comprehensiveness in education are studied in Norway and Sweden, considering their effects on the general educational attainment of the population. Developments in Norway have been much more uneven than in Sweden. The greatest changes in Norway have been caused by lower secondary reforms around 1970. (SLD)

This descriptive study investigated two areas: (a) perceived changes in gifted and talented (G/T) programming in Iowa from the time a state mandate was implemented to the time of the study, and (b) perceived effects of the mandate on G/T programming in Iowa. Perceptions of middle-level teachers of gifted and talented students (n = 111) were…

This international research report consists of five papers discussing five different topics in education. "Views on the Implementation of the Curriculum--Experiences of the Finnish Practice" (P. Kansanen) analyzes research results regarding the national curriculum for the Finnish comprehensive school system and compares them with a…

Chris Barbic, a Teach For America corps member, started Project Youth Engaged in Service (YES) in 1995. He wanted to offer his former elementary-school students an alternative to the low-performing middle schools they otherwise would attend. Since then Barbic has led a high-energy team of educators in refining a comprehensive approach to helping…

The transition from middle school to high school represents a significant event in the lives of adolescents, one that necessitates support from and collaboration among teachers, parents, counselors, and administrators at both educational levels. Successful transitions place particular emphasis on ninth-grade initiatives and can create one of…

This collection of eight essays examines the current and future status of early childhood education and care (educare), focusing on Europe but also addressing issues applicable to the wider world. The essays are: (1) "Early Childhood Intervention: An Overview of Practice North and South" (John Bennett); (2) "Developing the Child's…