Explores why Office of Educational Research and Improvement and educational research in general has low status and remote connection to educational reform. Educators should reexamine assumption that such research is sole domain of experts, give increased attention to Wirth's democratic sociotechnical model, emphasize development of values uniting…

The Illinois Off-Campus Library Services Evaluation Model utilizes collaboration between evaluators and individual stakeholders. An OCLS survey administered at a small comprehensive liberal arts college with evening and weekend course offerings showed compliance with state and Association of College and Research Libraries requirements, general…

Current social, racial, and economic conditions in the United States are viewed as creating opportunities to undermine democratic values. A historical consciousness that acknowledges different interpretations of the past is seen as a prerequisite for maintenance of democracy. (MSE)

Arguments offered in discussion by today's college students are not intended to persuade but are rather expressions of solidarity with the politically correct. Healthy democracy requires appreciation of the importance of public argument as a means of persuasion. Higher education needs a renewed commitment to this principle. (MSE)

Explores notions of what democracy might be at the university. suggesting that university autonomy and democracy need never be in opposition, though limitations on autonomy are sometimes defensible. The university's interactions with a surrounding society are viewed as potentially part of a democratic process. (SM)

In Australia, education is expected to serve national and international market economies and is being steered by market forces within and beyond education. Recent forms of education markets raise social-justice issues inadequately treated in literature. Markets operate according to profit motive and are not premised on equality or fairness…

The state of global studies in too many schools has changed little in 25 years; projects are seldom future oriented or focused on major world problems (such as increasing pollution, population, poverty, and corporate influence). Administrators must examine all textbooks, inventory their staff and community, and take bold steps to develop…

Examines teacher empowerment as it appears in current educational reform by analyzing the concept against a template of democratic assumptions and conditions. Analyzes empowerment's meaning and workplace requirements and provides a democratic rationale for the existence of public education. Academic achievement is not the sole purpose of…

Too many college students seem conditioned (by authoritarian teaching styles) to serve as "clerks" to the decision makers and power holders. To help students learn to think critically and independently, this article advises faculty to create practica based on televotes and mediation training, creative projects (such as monopoly games and…

Suggests that music instruction include teaching ethics and values. Argues that performing ensembles are a powerful tool for imparting values such as integrity, self-esteem, cooperation, and tolerance. Includes charts for evaluating student behavior without including ethics and values as part of an academic grade. (DK)

Describes a research project conducted by twelfth grade students in American government classes. States that the project's objectives are to have students become aware of the approachability of legislators and to realize that input from informed citizens is central to the democratic process. (RDS)

Whereas democracy institutionalizes distrust, professionalism relies on trust. Responding to Berbules and Densmore, this article identifies strong normative reasons, grounded in the interests of children, for promoting teacher professionalism. Exorcising the evils of classic professionalism will eliminate neither equity nor quality problems.…

The only states forbidden to charge school fees are Idaho and Florida. School boards' right to assess student fees is rooted in each state's constitution, statutes, and court decisions. Student fees violate our nation's ideal of free public education, which has helped advance democracy. A table shows state-by-state fee policy comparisons. (MLH)

In contrast to "scientific" teacher evaluation methods, horizontal evaluation, and the critical approach to clinical supervision allow teachers to act autonomously in questioning and evaluating their teaching. These models are part of a growing democratic tradition of educative evaluation emphasizing active teacher involvement and a more…

Three women working together at Columbia University developed a teacher education knowledge base that was not dependent on theory, experiential learning, or research. Teacher education as university study was developed to support an ideology directed toward a vision of citizenship qualities and personal development considered essential for…