This narrative of a graduate student with deafness describes her experiences in various educational environments including oral communication, total communication, and mainstreamed. The article emphasizes the role of parents as the child's best advocates and advises parents to trust their own instincts and not accept the authority of professionals…

Principles of comprehensive assessment of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are examined in relation to legal compliance, special considerations for cultural diversity, medical diagnosis versus educational identification, and the problem-solving assessment model. Strengths and weakness of specific strategies are identified as…

This article discusses the British move towards a skills-based model in special education teacher education. Focusing on the special case of students with autism, the article offers a perspective which stresses the importance of theory, practice, specialized knowledge, and reflective teaching. (DB)

Addresses educational benefits of integrating community service into the curriculum and describes efforts toward achieving this goal. Involving students in community service can lead to social change by balancing individual rights and self-interest with collective responsibility to the community and society at large. (LP)

Responds to Maureen Hallinan's review of research and recommendations regarding grouping students for instructional purposes. Contends that ability grouping is much more than an administrative practice. Concludes that the school's normative, social, and political climate should be the object of reform. (CFR)

Reviews research on students' concepts and theories of fair and effective educational practices. Asserts that students are insightful critics of schooling and hold different theories about how schools should be defined. Maintains that moral education programs could encourage students and teachers to negotiate fair classroom practices. (CFR)

Reviews current student-assessment practices, highlighting alternative-assessment definitions and terminology, portfolio-assessment methods, holistic and analytic scoring rubrics, and improved traditional approaches. Educators must reconsider the wisdom of traditional practice, while giving a fair hearing to new approaches. Fundamental changes in…

This article examines informal transition-related assessment procedures for use with students with mild disabilities. The article includes a rationale for assessing transition-related variables; assessment procedures for kindergarten through grade 6 and for grade 7 through grade 12 and a discussion of common features of practical,…

Maintains that many early childhood educators are apt to practice nice thinking rather critical thinking when, in fact, the latter would clear their heads and inform practice. This position is supported by examples of teachers' uses of such terms as "home-school cooperation,""planning," and "curriculum." (BB)

F. Schrag is preoccupied with enhancing education, but who decides what enhancement is? He has confused positivism with empiricism. Positivism is a specific philosophical movement that is associated with logical positivism. The empiricism that Schrag labels positivism preceded the philosophic traditions. (SLD)

Contends that U.S. educational change is characterized by several factors including rapid demographic shifts, new research into the nature of teaching and learning, and dissatisfaction with students' achievement on national tests. Includes an annotated bibliography of 16 ERIC articles and documents on the topic. (CFR)

Writing teams composed of school administrators and university personnel in Western Australia, Ontario, and the Northwest Territories developed regional profiles of effective principalships for use as a resource in developing effective school leadership programs. Common components of profiles included effective practices relating to school culture…

Empirical evidence concerning the promise of setting national standards for school improvement is assembled. From this evidence, it is predicted that standards will not lead to the standardization of educational practice, stifled creativity, or minority-student endangerment. Benefits, which are less easily predicted, will depend on the quality of…

Analysis of current Australian educational policy and practice and interviews with 24 teachers newly appointed to small rural schools in Australia indicates a need for specialized training for rural teachers and the development of specific rural staffing policies and selection practices. (LP)

Explains how educators can create a living educational theory and improve their practice by reflecting on the improvement process. Reflection must focus on areas like acknowledging one's existence as a living contradiction, showing values in action, and determining which power relations influence the academic legitimacy of a living educational…