To minimize the effect of partisan politics on curriculum development and change, we must encourage broad involvement of educators and citizens in discussions about such curricular issues as the balance of subjects, social and intellectual skills to be emphasized, standards to be set, and how to develop the personal characteristics important to…

Suggests ways for music teachers to capitalize on student interest in contemporary sounds. Gives recommendations for class examination, examples of recordings and print articles to foster student enthusiasm and class participation. Discusses curriculum tie-ins with nursery rhymes, fairy tales, oral history, and social commentary, listing songs…

Describes efforts by Malaysian society to transform itself using technology into an information-rich knowledge society founded on positive universal values. Locates contemporary educational development within the framework of four government-driven initiatives that provide the direction and resources for educational change. Discusses issues…

An exploratory study examined the characteristics and attitudes of 78 West Virginia women, age 25 and older, who enrolled in a state college after an absence from schooling. The women were embedded in traditional Appalachian networks of family, church, and community but demonstrated quite liberal social attitudes toward women's roles, abortion,…

Reviews the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty and considers the implications for Hong Kong civic education. Describes the negligible attention given to civic education previously and discusses some of the reasons for this. Outlines the "Guidelines for Civic Education" introduced in 1984. (MJP)

The National PTA conducted focus groups, surveys, and interviews with PTA members and the general public to gauge opinion about public education. Respondents felt that public education has worsened recently. Most did not believe media portrayal of public schooling. Violence was a major concern. Respondents wanted to see more family involvement and…

Educational change can result in meaningful, holistic learning if communities educate constituents on the need for new societal and educational paradigms; begin a process of disorienting away from old school structures while orienting toward the new; develop a person-based educational philosophy; establish research and development learning…

Examines the problem of equity in school funding, noting the relationship between poverty, racial composition, spending, and student achievement. Discusses how equity is measured; the influence of the social context (i.e., ghettoization, corporate deals, and political spins); the impact of the legal context; and the issue of equity versus justice.…

Identifies factors contributing to urban schools' failure, including bureaucratic decision-making processes; outmoded, poorly maintained, and improperly designed facilities; responsibility overload; a new student population comprising immigrants, African-Americans, and the poor; rising security costs; inadequate staffing; and lack of political…

Data from interviews with Palestinian activist college students about their earlier schooling in Israel are used to illustrate Palestinian teachers' dilemmas and challenges and to confirm that the Israeli authorities systematically use formal education to repress Palestinian national identity and awareness among students. Educational goals of…

The co-founders of the Sudbury Valley School (Massachusetts) discuss how the school's philosophy is based on giving children respect, freedom, and support to find their own self-motivation; how play is one of the best learning tools; and the sustained public relations effort that has been required to establish and maintain the school's…

The bilingual education debate often focuses solely on quick mastery of English versus native language maintenance, ignoring the more important issue of overall academic success for English language learners. Research suggests that the effectiveness of late-exit bilingual programs may be related to their provision of long-term academic support and…

From 1949 to 1957, the Chinese Communist Party's language policy took a pluralistic approach. A Chinese-monopolistic language policy was dominant, 1958-77. A pluralistic approach was again adopted from 1977 to the present. The Chinese experience illustrates how language minorities everywhere must balance maintaining their home language with…

Advocates the use of scripted plays (called dramatic scenarios) to teach administrators and school-board members about the politics of educational decision-making. Includes a dramatic scenario involving the deliberations of a seven-person principal-selection committee. Summarizes administrator impressions of the scenario. (Contains 28 references.)…

In an attempt to respond to confusion about--or resistance to--the tutoring requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance outlining what it expects states and school districts to do in supplying the help to needy children. This nonregulatory guidance clarifies the roles of states and school…