Suggests a model of knowing in which theory may emerge from classroom practice. Proposes establishing a network of writing teachers whose mission is to render accounts from the field. Argues that a dialogue between practitioners and theoreticians is long overdue. (RS)

Published opinions of acknowledged leaders in the field of mental retardation in the Soviet Union were reviewed. Basic concepts of the nature and causes of mental retardation, methods of screening, accepted classifications of persons with mental retardation, and educational facilities are described. Some comparisons with American theoretical and…

Areas of concern in the mandation of gifted education include its defensibility, affordability, and contribution to excellent education. Recommendations for improvements or alternatives to mandation are offered. In response to this paper, Neil Salkind supports mandated programs, while Peggy Dettmer's counterpoint calls for deferring judgment and…

Conversations with state department representatives in four Midwestern states produced a discussion of trends and commentary on the status of state definitions of behavioral disorders/emotional disturbance, as well as identification practices and procedures. Among concerns expressed are the need to be more systematic in gathering behavioral data.…

Reviews actions taken by the Scottish Education Department that have led to research investigating school effectiveness and school improvement efforts in Scottish schools. Efforts included defining the research context, analysis of research relating to school effectiveness and school improvement, and examining the interplay between government…

Comparison of tasks, job control, and work-related personality traits of 255 British headteachers and 20 elementary school principals in Texas showed that context factors of the jobs were similar, but that British headteachers presided over smaller school organizations and functioned more like executive officers than did Texas counterparts. (SLD)

University researchers developed a survey to assess resources, curriculum development, and inservice needs related to social education in Victoria. Responses from 37 primary schools (21% response rate), indicate significant gaps between policy and practice in many schools, huge differences in confidence concerning curriculum areas, and a strong…

To achieve a substantive level of professionalism, experiential education should extend authentic educational practices to help mainstream educators provide meaningful learning. This can be accomplished through information sharing among colleagues and efforts toward philosophical clarification, theory building, and research. Rituals and collective…

A survey of 39 school districts serving large numbers of culturally diverse students found that many districts listed gifted students from ethnic/linguistic minorities or economically disadvantaged as important underserved populations. Alternative identification procedures were primarily intended to expand the assessment basis, and factors…

Explores how the school classroom context influenced the expression of one prospective science teachers' beliefs about science and science teaching. Using the comparative method of data analysis, four interrelated categories of a student teacher's experience were generated: (1) beliefs about teaching science; (2) constrained teaching and…

Explains why structural change is an important theme of educational reform, and explores the complexities of structural change in reform efforts and their effects on teaching practices and student learning. The implications of these complexities on the relationship between structure and practice and on future educational reform research are…

This article first notes differences between least restrictive environment (LRE), inclusion, and mainstreaming. It then discusses the LRE mandate of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, reviews federal cases that have ruled on the application of the mandate, and concludes with an examination of principles from these cases and their…

Ninety-three elementary school children were interviewed about fairness of selected practices for influencing motivation to learn. Responses reflected their purposes for learning and their definitions of learning. Children held diverse views and valued different rewards, suggesting that teachers should treat students as thoughtful moral agents…

Describes the use of life histories as a means for making sense of personal events and their application to education. Distinguishes three models for the use of life histories in education: the biographical model, the autobiographical model, and the dialectical model. (22 citations) (MAB)

Describes how the DeVry Institute of Technology (Illinois), a for-profit educational institution, outperforms the federal government's plan in providing job training by offering quality technical education to working-class students. The author compares total degree costs, explains the school's curriculum and educational practices, and explores the…