Assessment is intended to raise in value what the public gets for the dollars it invests in education, not to raise new dollars for educational institutions. To many people within universities, assessment is perceived as a threat. Ways to reduce anxiety that comes with assessment are discussed. (MLW)

The inadequacy of current measures of educational quality makes it imperative to develop an educational assessment system truly indicative of the tasks of educators and the diverse populations they serve, or educational reform efforts will suffer and educators will not be able to sustain public support. (MSE)

A number of quality assurance educational evaluation methods are illustrated. Evaluation data obtained from the Providence, Rhode Island, school district are used. The methods are: (1) from auditing, internal control; (2) from accounting, double bookkeeping; and (3) from industrial quality control, acceptance sampling and cumulative percentage…

Economics teachers in Great Britain are very concerned about how their pupils will fare in the externally assessed examinations at the secondary level. Discusses the implications of the widening in the range of techniques being used in A-level economics examinations. (RM)

Although formal assessment of children with severe disabilities raises many problems of measurement, evaluation by "standard rulers" is still essential. This article examines the role of the school psychologist in the measurement process and identifies issues related to the assessment of developmentally disabled children. (Author/EGS)

Current nationwide efforts to improve education call for new information for policymakers in testing and evaluation. Recent state and national evaluation activities, including the Department of Education's project to establish statistical indicators for education, are discussed. Guidelines are given for developing reasonable and appropriate…

In March 1984 volunteer observers followed 141 ninth-grade students in schools throughout the country for a complete school day. The observations are disquieting and show that teacher-student interactions are limited and that instruction is fragmented and dominated by textbook-and-lecture. (MD)

Synthesizes results of conference proceedings and recent research and concludes that there are some positive developments in contemporary English education, including the ideas that teachers will teach writing better if given regular opportunities to write themselves and discuss what goes on as they write for various purposes. (DF)

Attacks upon the quality of public school education result from economic, social, and political upheavals. Three times since 1950 public schools have been blamed for the nation's problems. The pattern of these attacks on education are explored. (DF)

Argues that overreliance on standardized tests contributes to the deterioration of educational standards, teacher passivity, and lack of student involvement in academic studies, thus undermining democratic education; lists several alternatives to standardized testing. (MCG)

Compares and contrasts major themes and characteristics of multicultural, developing, and environmental education programs, offering perspectives on whether linkage should occur among these three fields of study. Also discusses implications of this union for teaching, training, and instructional programs. (ML)

Discusses the status of environmental education at the primary level in Sudan, reviews the objectives, content, methodology, and evaluation strategies of an environmental education program that was implemented with primary age students. Reports that pupil improvement in scholastic achievement and behavior followed after participation in the…

Stresses the need for qualified environmental science technicians and for training courses in this area. Provides program information and statistical summarization of a national diploma program for environmental technicians titled "Business and Technician Education Council." Reviews the program areas of environmental analysis and…

Derived from analysis of a museum and a hospital, guidelines for studying education in non-school settings are outlined. The outline includes both general guidelines which pertain to any educational setting, and specific guidelines related to particular settings, such as a museum or hospital. (JMK)

An important trend in Canadian education in recent years has been the switch from comprehensive to diploma examinations. The examination development process, from the time an examination is conceived to the time it is administered, is discussed. (RM)