The concept of public education is on national trial and is being exploited by interests intending to train our children to be good customers, rather than good citizens. Market terminology cannot express ideals of a free, universal education. The real choice is whether all children will receive an excellent education irrespective of their place of…

Reminds teachers that American Indians played a major role in shaping the modern world. Notes that the indigenous peoples of the Americas introduced European American settlers to a variety of foods and agricultural methods. Argues that American Indians also contributed to U.S. concepts of democracy and federalism. Provides guidelines for teaching…

If public schools abandon their historic common school mission to promote racial and ethnic separatism, they will forfeit their claim to public support. If they remain true to their historic role, the public schools will rightfully serve as a bulwark against ethnic chauvinism and counter the forces of social fragmentation by instilling democratic…

Discusses the relationship between learning and governing, suggesting that systems of social organization reflect prevailing theories of mind and are presuppositional in higher education. Using philosophy, history, and politics, the paper suggests ways of designing higher education systems that reflect a comprehensive view and enhance democratic…

The article examines changes in the economic environment effected by the increasing roles of knowledge and technological innovation. It discusses university-industry relations, analyzing arguments for enhancing university-industry links. It notes the potentially negative implications of excessive entrepreneurial participation of universities in…

Discusses three concerns about inequities in public education: the national movement to write off poor urban students (and growing pressure to privatize public schooling), the sense of hopelessness in the literature on public education, and the lack of action in creating educational change and improvement. (SM)

An interview with Jonathan Kozol, author of "Savage Inequalities," documents disparities in spending between African-American and white public school students nationwide. The interview examines the disparities, issues about resegregation and integration in schools, and implications of the book for a progressive view of school reform. (SM)

Wigginton's Foxfire program requires that students and teachers collaborate on important, intriguing issues and use certain experiential methods to address and assess them. Wigginton handed out copies of Georgia's 92 language arts objectives to his ninth and tenth graders and allowed them considerable flexibility in learning them. Cooperative…

Asserts that student attitudes toward history textbooks are important because the perceptions may affect how much or how well they learn. Describes how 17 11th-grade U.S. history students evaluated their textbook. Found that 71% of the students perceived the book to be a presentation of knowledge. (CFR)

Reports on a study of 236 prospective social studies teachers at a Nigerian university about their attitudes toward human rights and civil liberties. Finds that most prospective teachers were aware of rights included in the Nigerian Constitution and were generally supportive of them. Includes two tabular presentations of data. (CFR)

John Goodlad believes the imminent teacher shortage could provide an opportunity for centers of pedagogy to prepare reading and math head teachers to work with teams of primary teachers. By democratizing school conditions, students could be educated for "civitas," or human goodness. Technology is no substitute for human infrastructure.…

Life-changing personal experience as a student at Bowdoin College (Maine) in the 1970s convinced the author that small liberal arts colleges will play an important role in the coming global debate about the success or failures of American-style democracy. Such institutions are where the vision and promise of American democracy have been, and…

Depicts the lackadaisical attitude of students in a high school government and history class. Cautions that without a sound knowledge of and appreciation for democratic rights and the political struggles from which they developed, future generations may lose the privileges that they currently enjoy. (DSK)

Delivers an account of how curriculum and cultural change was mediated by "educational actors" over the last century, employing pragmatic arguments for reform which drew on the metaphoric power of scientific achievements. Contains 70 references. (Author/DDR)

Argues that the role of education should be to shape the whole individual. The culture and organization of schools must change to promote student success and democratic values. The school has failed to be a level playing field for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, and must become an instrument for justice and liberation for the…