This volume contains 12 papers originally presented at the 14th Rutgers Invitational Symposium on Education in 1999. The symposium explored contemporary issues of ethnic, cultural, and national identities and their influence on the social construction of identity. Papers include: (1) "Reconceptualizing Ethnicity and Educational…

Reasons for which children of Bhutan learn English better than their native language, Dzongkha, are explored, including the overall language situation in Bhutan and its economic and cultural influences. Recommendations are made for increasing the learning and use of Dzongkha while retaining English in the school curriculum. The spread of English…

A study of limited-English-speaking Vietnamese children (K-12) showed that the best predictors of reading performance were grade, Vietnamese language background, amount of English spoken at home, higher level paternal occupation, and ESL class participation. Predictors not found significant included gender, siblings, television viewing, library…

Examines changes in the broad cultural background which provide the context for thinking, and how such life-style changes may have influenced the decline of reasoning skills and styles fundamental to the sciences. Considers peasant/rural farming, new world, and postaffluent society life-styles and science education in the latter. (Author/SK)

Current standards for and assessments of teaching that rely solely on teacher knowledge, reasoning, and sociocultural issues are incomplete. The perspective of teaching as a way of being creates a more comprehensive picture of what it means to be a teacher. A model of teaching that envisions good teaching as wise practice is presented. (SM)

Conducted in-depth interviews with early childhood teachers in Sweden, Russia, and United States as to their society's influence on early childhood education. Found differences in responses related to the macro-, meso-, and micro-levels of the societal system. Findings deepen understanding about multidimensional relationships between early…

Describes a simple in-class exercise that reveals some flaws in capitalist, individualistic-oriented ideology by following specific assumptions to their logical conclusion. Poses the question, if drive and ambition are sole determinants of success could society accommodate a population where everyone possessed those qualities? (MJP)

Contends that craft art should be viewed as the inherent connectedness between an art object and its maker and perceiver. Maintains that school craft programs can increase students' international and intercultural perspectives. Asserts that crafts are meaningful if they are examined in context. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the impact of a transformative curriculum in social studies among 96 11th-grade students in a New York City high school. Illustrates problems teachers face when they assume that students are making the intellectual connections expected of them. (CFR)

Reports on a study of Russian parental attitudes regarding appropriate age of initial school attendance and decisions regarding secondary education. Finds that 80% of parents of young children support kindergarten education. Includes 14 tables of data from the study. (CFR)

Discusses social and political changes in southern Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War. Describes anti-U.S. propaganda used in the schools and media in the years immediately following the war. Contends that younger Vietnamese look forward to a closer relationship with the United States and its people. (CFR)

Describes some common characteristics of homeless families and the additional needs and stresses created by being homeless with which children must successfully cope in order to succeed in school. Provides specific counseling intervention strategies to help schools become more responsive to the needs of this at-risk group of students. (LKS)

Discusses the perceptual effects of music on culture. Outlines the differences between "high" and "low" culture and attributes of popular culture. Concludes that the goal should not be to encourage students to listen to better music, but to listen to all music more intelligently. (CFR)

Discusses changes in society resulting from improved access to information and describes sociocultural, political, economic, and technological trends that influence the information field. The following challenges for the information field are addressed: the need for recruitment; appropriate education, including continuing education; visual…

Examines level of commitment to an ecological world view and sociodemographic bases for that commitment among Australians. Describes an ecological world view scale. Reports little attitudinal difference between students and others, but finds females more ecologically minded and less confident in science and technology than males are. Concludes…