Describes the educational system of the former Soviet Union and its role during the break-up of the Union. Details characteristics of current efforts to reform the educational system and contrasts them with reform movements in the United States. Cites lessons learned from Soviet and post-Soviet educational experiences. (32 citations) (AJL)

Views of 30 Finnish and 76 U.S. teachers, 15 Finnish and 7 American administrators, and 22 Finnish and 40 American parents about appropriate educational practices for children aged 3 to 5 years were studied. Finnish parents were more supportive of developmentally appropriate practices, and were in better agreement with educators. (SLD)

A recent survey questions whether mathematics teachers in Arizona view math content as dynamic or process-oriented. Less than half used state curriculum guidelines, and few reported knowledge of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' emphases on mathematical processes related to problem solving or reasoning. Teachers seem unaware of their…

Examined processes implemented within an early childhood teacher education program at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, that aimed to recognize the Treaty of Waitangi obligation to protect the Maori people. Describes key features of the bicultural development restorative process related to lecturers' aspirations, pedagogical…

Compares the national policy developments in two countries, Australia and South Africa, and investigates the emerging tensions in quality policy processes in these countries. Reports that a number of similarities and differences were evident. States that notions of quality and quality policies are dependent on localized contexts. Includes…

Supports the thesis that constructivism and self controlled learning in adult education should be considered reactions to imperatives of modernization. Recognizes that concepts of self-directed learning are accompanied by a change in the forms of organization as well as the logic and structure of action in adult education. (CAJ)

Describes how an eleven-period day would work in high schools. Discusses the benefits of having an eleven-period day, such as helping with overcrowding and allowing students flexibility. Addresses where music class would fit into this schedule and includes a list of resources on scheduling. (CMK)

Discusses how the book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (Stephen Covey), can be used in the elementary school to teach character education using an informal approach in a school-wide effort. Relates the seven habits to the book, "Swimmy" (Leo Lioni). Includes a trade books list and the habit(s) each address. (CMK)

Presents behavioral analyses of particular constructions of democracy and the ethic of care to determine whether care is a democratic virtue. Concludes that certain behavioral habits that partially contribute to a person's or a community's caring also partially contribute to that person's or community's democracy. (CMK)

Introduces a special issue of the "Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education." Presents the Dallas (Texas) papers of the MayDay Group, a loosely organized world-wide coalition of music education theorists and practitioners, that critique the book, "Music Matters" (David Elliott). (CMK)

Discusses a cognitive model that is an alternative to Jerome Bruner's spiral curriculum, developed and based on the metaphor that the mind's knowledge base is a lattice. States that the lattice metaphor offers an understanding of cognition but some questions still remained unanswered. (CMK)

Reports on a study that evaluated two approaches to the teaching of physical geography. Reports on the project that focused on first-year geography students undertaking physical geography fieldwork. Indicates that the traditional descriptive-explanation approach in the short term is more conducive to student learning than the analytical-predictive…

Discusses the concept of globalization and explores the relationship between globalization and societal culture. States the transfer between systems must be more culturally sensitive. Offers a list of cultural dimensions to gauge the influence of cultures. Argues that greater cultural sensitivity is necessary when raising issues on school reform…

Questions whether morality should not be discussed in schools. Considers claims for the importance of morality by drawing on the work of John Wilson. Argues that the best strategy for public school environments would be to focus on morality in the narrow sense. (CMK)

Explores the nature of critical thinking through a discussion on the use of logic, the role of the critical spirit, dialogical reasoning, assessment of criteria, the relationship of content, and the relationship of caring and connections with criticism. Includes references. (CMK)