Surveys the purpose and goals of education in U.S. society, exploring the relationship between power and knowledge. Evaluates educational reform against the criteria of human dignity and meaning, outlining conditions for developing students who understand the power of knowledge and the purpose of education in a democratic republic. (GEA)

Explores John Dewey's contributions to the recent debate over the role of the classics in the college curriculum. Argues a "modified Deweyan solution" advocating flexibility in the selection and study of classic texts. (FMW)

Explores Dewey's concern about the potential threat to democratic community posed by dependence on experts as policymakers. Discusses Dewey's reservations and guarded support of professionalization. Contrasts his views with the democratic elitist position of Walter Lippmann. (MJP)

Maintains that the inclusion of diverse views to enhance understanding is one of the central tenets of education. Briefly summarizes the arguments for and against multicultural education and calls for a more tolerant and open dialog between conservative and liberal factions. (MJP)

The complex relationships between knowledge development, economic development, and democratic life are examined in the context of recent developments in three industrially advanced societies (Canada, Great Britain, United States) with a long history of democracy. It is argued that economic development and epistemology must be subordinate to…

School choice is a strategy to avoid the problems facing schools. Crime and discipline must be confronted head-on. Using public money to supplement private education dollars is useless. Living under majority rule while running a public school is not easy. "Choice" is a quick-fix that undermines the democratic value system it celebrates. (25…

Discusses whether democratic values should be inculcated through school curriculum, tracing historical, legal, and constitutional factors that legitimize the function of democratic principles in school curriculum. To inculcate American democratic values, the democratic mission should be integrated with subject matter emphasis, learner needs, and…

Arguing in favor of the Jeffersonian ideal, this article proposes raising the point at which universal education ends and discretionary education begins. A 13-plus-3-year configuration similar to the European model might replace the current 12-plus-4 American model, perhaps with some modification. It is proposed that substantial savings could be…

Discusses the concept of democracy as a social contract between equal individuals. Argues that women's individuality is relative rather than absolute despite the formal equality of Western societies. Questions the neutral definition of pupils when students are socially, politically, or economically unequal. Explores child-centered education and…

Uses data from English comprehensive schools to suggest that schools teach the reality of second class citizenship for African-American people through a hidden curriculum. Argues that teachers have the opportunity to challenge stereotypes and empower students by putting antiracist principles into practice. Stresses the need to recognize and…

In "Politics, Markets, and American Schools," Chubb and Moe (1990) advocated free market principles that would give individual families the freedom to choose among competing schools. This review claims that Chubb and Moe's empirical case is fatally flawed and that the market approach to choice they embrace threatens the ideal of a…

The current school choice debate reflects inevitable tensions between private and public education goals. Dramatic social geographic shifts since World War II may have changed the meaning of "private" and "public" so that a new public-private arrangement has evolved. This article discusses the origin of "private citizenship," identifies its key…

Presents an annotated bibliography of nine items from the ERIC database on the subject of patriotism. Includes articles on such topics as Americanism, citizenship education, and environmentalism. Explains how to obtain copies of the documents. (SG)

Profiles the life and writings of Janusz Korczak, who lived in Poland from 1878 until his execution by the Nazis in 1942. Korczak was trained as a pediatrician but devoted his life to running an orphanage, advocating children's rights, and educating teacher apprentices and children about the principles of democracy. (LP)

The bitter debate over the literary and historical canon has overshadowed the progress made in multicultural education during the last two decades. Detractors mistakenly believe that multicultural education is for victimized minorities and women, opposes the Western tradition, and will divide the nation. Teachers must integrate five knowledge…