Words such as aims, goals, objectives, requirements, and outcomes have been used to define the role of education. As evident in the work of Dewey (1916), Walker and Soltis (1986), Sizer (1984), Goodlad (1984), Boyer (1983), Mager (1970), and Spady (1989), these terms are fuzzy and ill-defined. Throughout history, educators have identified various…

The Design Group for the New Designs for the Comprehensive High School project used their first meeting to deliberate and make a keystone decision about the purpose and desired outcomes of the comprehensive high school. From a working paper by Pearce et al. (1991), the Design Group reviewed the history and current practices of aims and objectives…

School restructuring reforms have placed an increased emphasis on student outcomes as the primary qualitative measure of education systems. The Texas public school accountability system focuses attention on performance measured by standardized test scores (the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test), dropout rates, and attendance rates and…

The purpose of the assessment described in this paper was to evaluate the extent to which students could demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes detailed in the British Columbia social studies curriculum. The paper focuses on those aspects of the assessment that concerned critical thinking skills. All students in grades 4, 7, and 10 took…

Proponents argue that the competition inherent in publicly funded tuition voucher programs will increase school quality and family choice, but voucher systems would be subject to the same forces that shape public schools. The efficiency and effectiveness of voucher plans must be assessed in light of those educational goals important to the…

This document is designed to help school personnel analyze their current curriculum for grades 1, 2, and 3 in terms of the Mathematics Common Curriculum for Oregon. The common curriculum goals are organized into nine content strands: (1) number and numeration; (2) appropriate computational skills; (3) problem solving; (4) geometry and…

Responding to the challenge to improve general education, this compilation of ideas, programs, and people is intended to provide information, broaden perspectives about what can be done, and help to highlight strengths and weaknesses of several alternative approaches. The topics included in this guide grew out of the practical needs of faculty…

The Pennsylvania Questionnaire combines in one document elementary and secondary attitudinal items which are intended to measure six of the ten goals of quality education for the state. Item groups include understanding others, interest in learning, citizenship, creativity, appreciation of human accomplishments, and preparation for the demands of…

A two part experimental introductory college economics course is described. Data on the combination macroeconomics and microeconomics course have been collected over eight consecutive terms and are presented in nine chapters. Chapter I describes course goals as stimulation of student interest, teaching a few basic economic principles, helping…

Critiques James Barth, Robert Barr, and Sam Shermis' three social studies traditions theory and National Commission on Social Studies task force report. Argues first falsely splits essential social studies components; second creates a curricular hodgepodge. Highlights need to consider values as both affective and cognitive and to create…

This guide and accompanying audiotape are intended to be used as part of a series of lessons to involve students in participating in the development of their own Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The guide begins with answers to nine basic questions which address the IEP's purpose, the IEP meeting, and reasons for student participation.…

An often-quoted Nigerian proverb holds that it is the responsibility of the whole village to teach a child. This paper argues that this goal might not even be possible, given the complex educational system of the 1990s. The paper provides a framework for effective change based on an understanding of the complexity of the educational system. It…

An overview of developments in educational planning from the 1960s through the 1990s is presented in this paper. Based on the definition of educational planning as "a technique for choosing resources and objectives in accordance with a standard," successful planning requires realistic objectives, effective means, and compatibility between…

This plan recommends that Illinois students be given opportunities for continuing and systematic experiences in expressive/creative and impressive/perceptual modes of fine arts instruction. Components of such a program include: generalized; integrated; interrelated; specialized; and extended arts instruction. Enactment of the arts in the general…

This document contains the national standards for civics and government for grades K-12. They are intended to help schools develop competent and responsible citizens who possess a reasoned commitment to the fundamental values and principles that are essential to the preservation and improvement of U.S. constitutional democracy. This document is…