Seven separate reports survey the literature and current thinking in the following topic areas: optimum school and class sizes, organization of schools into appropriate grade-level groups, the benefits and disadvantages of ability grouping, the decline in student achievement as measured by standardized tests, the expansion of kindergarten…

This document explores the grouping of grades in elementary and secondary schools, examining the historical reasons for the development of grade clusters, from the appearance of the Prussian system in the nineteenth century to the impact of declining enrollment today. The influence of changing attitudes toward child development on the…

The "legacy" of the humanities is discussed in terms of relevance, involvement, and other philosophical considerations. Reasons for studying foreign literature in language classes are developed in the article. Comment is also made on attitudes and ideas culled from the writings of Clifton Fadiman, Jean Paul Sartre, and James Baldwin. (RL)

This 1969-70 directory of public elementary and secondary schools provides the names of and basic information on local school systems in the United States and its possessions. In this directory, the listing includes all systems regardless of size, as well as nonoperating public school districts. The main body of the directory lists, in…

This report examines parents' attitudes toward a foreign language program in a unified public school district at all levels of instruction through high school. Statistical tabulations taken from 1,262 opinionnaires focus on ten classifications of French and Spanish instruction. Major findings, relationship of effectiveness response to placement…

The eight essays in this document concern occupational education in the 2-year college. The first two essays present an overview of the community college and its role in providing post-secondary occupational education for contemporary American society. Three essays concern the curriculum for occupational education, emphasizing the needs of urban…

This general review of the development and demise in popularity of the "audiolingual" method of teaching second languages in America underscores the impact of World War II on the changing needs of the country's manpower resources in the field of international relations. The author develops the thesis that the urgent need for speakers of second…

This pamphlet is designed to provide general guidelines for beginning teachers who are interested in establishing a Spanish program. Contents include suggested outlines and materials for basic and advanced courses. Sections on testing, teaching aids, and library materials for teachers of Spanish are included. (RL)

The purpose of this study was to determine if students, in grades 4-6, selected from the Caldecott Award Winners and runners-up the same picture book for their first preference as compared to those given first place by the Caldecott Award Committee. Students' race, sex, school system attended, and reading level were factors considered. A total of…

This newsletter, devoted to the topic of individualization of foreign language instruction in America, contains a series of statements by prominent educators expressing their endorsement of the theory implied in this increasingly popular mode of instruction. A summary of general curriculum guidelines governing educators in the State of…

This bibliography lists some 400 references for the teaching of culture and civilization and was compiled for teachers of foreign languages in American schools and colleges. Each item included in the study meets one or more of the following criteria: (1) it was submitted to ERIC or published in a source readily accessible to foreign language…

Two essential concepts are developed in this paper: (1) the first year of language instruction is a period in which the student should gain basic command of the target language verbally and develop reading skills as well, and (2) the "comfort level" in reading should be retained as the student progresses. The latter, the author suggests, assures…

Children in eight classes of the 5th and 6th grades were randomly assigned to four groups. Group 1 received no training in creative dramatics; Group 4 was trained in the use of creative dramatics and were taught by the creative dramatics technique. Group 2 children were trained in the technique, but were not taught the material by the use of the…

Introductory remarks and suggestions for the possible use of reading materials included in this annotated bibliography precede the 38 entries classified according to grade level. The informational data includes: author, title, source, and availability. Annotations refer to format, level indicated, grammar, theme or plot, projected teaching use,…

The middle school movement, as a mechanism of educational reform through grade-level reorganization, has attracted a great deal of attention; and the total number of middle schools has grown significantly. This review surveys 19 documents previously announced in RIE, all but four of which are available through ERIC. The material reviewed is…