According to Michael Kirst, school boards are buffers against privatization and must be more flexible, become actively involved in curriculum policy and content, and parry occasional state incursions into curriculum. Kirst's latest project is creating a new vision of delivering children's services to offset the profound economic and social changes…

Considers biography-centered learning as a model for teaching social studies in elementary school. Provides a sequence of steps and a description of each to help students read and write biography as a knowledge transforming process. Claims students learn to do research and write, both vital to a democratic society. (NL)

Describes a retiring superintendent's efforts to dismantle factory-style schooling and empower teachers. The Santa Fe (New Mexico) Schools' teacher/principal management teams have already instituted interdisciplinary teaching and ungraded, multi-age elementary classes. The latest project involved empowering teachers to select the next…

Suggests sources of information for African American History Month for library media specialists who work with students in grades four through eight. Gale Research's "African-American Reference Library," which includes "African-America Biography,""African-American Chronology," and "African-American Almanac,"…

Paper explores the idea of biography writing as a medium for teacher development and reflection, focusing on the ethnographic biography to provide student teachers with context in preservice education and describing a one-semester course in Switzerland in which student teachers were paired with experienced teachers to complete ethnographic…

The different ways teachers represent their experiences as teachers were studied through the written expressions of six practicing Israeli teachers in an advanced teacher-education class. Their experiences demonstrate how "knowing-in-action" is converted to professional and public knowledge. (SLD)

Schools have become a convenient scapegoat for the nation's economic problems. U.S. education must change to meet new competitive standards. Although a more highly skilled, empowered work force is needed, reforming education alone would produce too many smart workers and too many dumb jobs. School choice will fail because funding is inadequate and…

In two years, Cuban-born Superintendent Peter Negroni has worked tirelessly to make the Springfield (Massachusetts) Public Schools a showcase for innovation and school reform. In whirlwind fashion, he has built bridges to the city's business, religious, and social service communities, introduced school-based management to all 40 district schools,…

Describes the development of a college-level Chinese history course based on the biographies of notable Chinese. Suggests story telling to make history more understandable and authentic. Argues that narrative can provide an open window for the study of any society. (CFR)

Discusses Kurt Hahn (1886-1974), German-born educator emphasizing moral virtue, community service, "Samaritan ethic," and mental-physical balance. Describes life in pre-World War II Germany, founding of British educational programs: Gordonstoun, Outward Bound, United World Colleges. Examines Hahn's influences and educational themes…

Presents resources for teaching about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Outlines criteria for selecting biographies for children and young adults. Identifies problems in certain biographies of King, and recommends high quality biographies of King. Discusses exercises for integrating themes from King's life into the classroom. (RW)

Describes the contributions of women who have served as role models in the fields of ecology and conservation. Women discussed include Ellen Richards, Maria Merian, Jane Colden, Mary Chase, Emma Braun, Ann Morgan, Rachel Carson, Eugenie Clark, Sylvia Earle, Wangari Maathai, Dian Fossey, Birute Galdikas, and Ruth Patrick. Contains 26 references.…

Examines the work of 18th-century educational reformer Anna Barbauld. Traces her links to other radical reform circles including the dissenting academy of Warrington, radical circles in East Anglia, Stoke Newington, the publisher Joseph Johnson, and Joseph and Mary Priestly. Discusses the impact of these groups on early 19th-century education.…

Describes a unit for elementary students on the history and technology of writing from ancient to medieval times. Includes a contemporary writing and print exercise, an ancient and medieval writing exercise, a research activity on the evolution of writing, a biography study, a fine arts exercise, and a community survey. Addresses the unit…

Formerly National Education Association president, Mary Futrell got NEA to support the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and helped shift NEA's focus to professional development and human-rights issues. She believes teachers must help state and district entities set academic and professional-development standards. (MLH)