Reviews materials developed by the now-defunct Russian President's Coordinating Committee for Handicapped Affairs. Reveals a system barely meeting the needs of its handicapped citizens and hampered by inadequate accounting and reporting. Provides a broad range of information on the handicapped in Russia based on approximate data. (MJP)

Profiles this year's winners of the Charles Frankel Prize, awarded to individuals who have stimulated and expanded public understanding of the humanities. The recipients are Rita Dove (poet), Doris Kearns Goodwin (historian/author), Daniel Kemmis (mayor/author), Arturo Madrid (professor), and Bill Moyers (television producer). (MJP)

The introduction of citizenship education as a key cross-curricular focus in Scottish national education guidelines is discussed in relation to New Labor's "Third Way" politics. Data from ongoing qualitative research in 10 Scottish schools provide evidence of pupil and staff participation in school decision-making processes as well as…

The present culture of standardized curriculum and assessment and scripted pedagogy creates an inner philosophical turmoil for educators who refuse to accept high stakes assessment as the sole measure of their success. Tips are provided for teachers and principals on implementing learner-centered place-based education. Principal-teacher…

Discusses decentralization and parental choice as the two central elements of the current wave of reform. Argues that the introduction of competition to schooling affects schools' need to increase their attractiveness and does not necessarily correspond with pedagogical considerations. Discusses some possible consequences of quasi-market…

The cases of Estonia and South Africa illustrate how a lack of coherence between a language policy and that policy's implementation plan can reduce both the policy and the implementation plan to symbolic acts of no benefit to students or communities. Comparison of these countries' language-in-education plans highlights the need to examine…

Asks who benefits from illiteracy to reveal the political implications of literacy's empowering potential. Observes literacy's ultimate capacity to overturn power structures and redistribute wealth and resources at international, national, and local levels. Relates the literacy problem to colonialism and its legacy. Offers examples of literacy…

Contends that the Black struggle for educational equality resulted in a new perspective in multicultural education--antiracist education. Stresses that homogeneous mainstream doctrine, international hegemony of English, and political devaluing of ethnicity contributed to the marginalization of community languages instruction. Concludes that the…

Examines the role of distance education in national and international development. Target populations are described, including the disadvantaged and adults; courses offered are discussed, including professional and vocational training, and rural development and community education; cost factors are reviewed; and the role of the state is examined.…

Several key labor bills that could affect school boards' role as employers will move forward through the 101st Congress. Details proposed mandates about family and medical leave, mandatory health benefits, and child care programs. (MLF)

A discussion of the changing relationship between the state and higher education in nine industrialized countries looks at conflicting requirements for institutional accountability, different models for the relationship; politics and governance; the developing role of central intermediary agencies; changing perspectives of student protest; and the…

The effects of Norway's government-driven policy changes to improve efficiency and quality in higher education on graduate study are examined, particularly as they affect the social sciences and humanities. Patterns in degree production until 1993 are examined, and the consequences of the recent market orientation are discussed. (MSE)

Challenges government assumptions regarding local government reorganization that would increase educational authorities in Scotland from 12 to 32. Proposes that the potential increase in administrative costs of smaller educational authorities would be greater than potential savings and would result in lower quality of educational service. Compares…

Evaluates the Scottish Education Department's Competence Guidelines for Initial Teacher Training from two perspectives: guidelines as coercive mechanism of state regulation or as compromise among various conceptualizations of teaching. Research concerning the school-based experiences of beginning teachers finds that the competencies and some of…

Presents a survey of educational history specific to immigration in England, France, and West Germany after World War II. Concludes that intercultural pedagogics is passing through a severe crisis that can be surmounted only if previous insights are successfully integrated into fundamentally new developments. (CFR)