Eleven papers on developments in middle school education (grades seven through nine) in England, West Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium are presented. Topics include comprehensive education for 11 to 16 year olds, mathematics, political issues, accessibility, curricula, school evaluation, and the view of the United States. (TJH)

This article asserts that social work is failing to fulfill its professional obligations, partly because educational institutions are failing to provide appropriate training to social workers; also, claims of the effectiveness of social therapeutics and professional techniques are exaggerated. Better research, shifts in curricular emphases, and a…

A sociometric tool for teachers was developed to study intergroup relationships in a junior high school in Israel in a study of academic and social integration of four distinct groups of students in a heterogeneous classroom. The format and application of the tool are reported in two school situations. (SLD)

Argues community colleges must employ Total Quality Management (TQM) to enhance student learning and faculty productivity and not just in terms of administrative functions. Describes characteristics and requirements of TQM, and details its uses and advantages in classroom assessment of student performance, emphasizing faculty development and the…

This policy statement adopted by American Federation of Teachers delegates in the summer of 1992 discusses two great tasks for U.S. education: improving the traditional model of education, while creating a different kind of learning institution to replace the traditional school. How to proceed in both areas is outlined. (SLD)

Contemporary education reform efforts are moving the focus of educational evaluation from professional relations to increasing consideration of managerial expectations in an increasingly politicized environment. Means of restoring an equilibrium between conventional evaluation norms/procedures and evolving expectations of the political system…

A holistic approach was used to evaluate student writing skills in a high school that is part of a residential treatment program. Faculty members scored 740 writing samples in the fall and spring of the 1990-91 school year. Good interrater reliability and significant skill gains for students were found. (SLD)

Six articles analyze 1989 data from the Computers in Education Study of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), a cross-national elementary and secondary education assessment. A seventh paper describes the rationale and procedures for construction of tests used in the study's second stage in 1992. (SLD)

A multimethod study of the service ethic among over 400 candidates for secondary education certificates shows service aims to be potent factors in attracting traditional college-age students to teaching. Interview data suggest that students interpret the service ethic chiefly in terms of promoting student academic and personal interest. (SLD)

Approximately 900 teachers in Virginia were surveyed to assess teachers' competencies in the 7 basic assessment areas identified in the "Standards for Teacher Competence in Educational Assessment of Students." Results will be used in designing training material in assessment for inservice teacher education. (SLD)

It is argued that teacher assessment should be extended to include students' learning gains. The conditions that must be met for such an assessment system to be implemented are described, and some alternative strategies for extending the focus of teacher evaluation and program evaluation to include student learning are discussed. (SLD)

A mail survey completed by 62 administrators in colleges of education in Ohio provides descriptive and correlational results about the nature of utilization of needs assessment. A moderately high multiple correlation is found for attitude and involvement, but other independent variables contribute minimally to prediction. (SLD)

The "new ruthless economy of globalization" has spawned a culture of performance in education characterized by increased demand for accountability through high stakes testing, and decreased funding. Effects include loss of teacher autonomy, focus on teaching to the test, proliferation of commercial cramming schools, increased external…

Lists the latest ERIC documents that describe institutional and state studies of community college remedial programs. Provides bibliographical information and a brief abstract of relevant documents. (YKH)

Compares the coverage and accuracy of economics in the National Council on Economic Education voluntary standards with the treatment of economics in other K-12 standards. Considers the economic concepts and relationships emphasized in the history, civics, and social studies standards. Includes a table illustrating economic concepts and other…