Discusses eight principles for creating a democratic classroom that were promoted at the Institute on Democratic Education and Exchange for middle school teachers held in Hungary. Discusses the implications of using more democratic methods and suggests activities for applying democratic practices to the middle school classroom. (CMK)

Examines the aspects of the 1944 Education Act that promoted outdoor education and the changes as the Bill passed through parliament. Reviews the practice of outdoor education and how Local Education Authorities (LEA) responded to the legislation. Demonstrates how the outdoors was incorporated into children's education as a response to social and…

Glimpses the literacy education practices of one third-grade Cuban teacher in a primary school in Havana. Speculates on relationships between Cuban educational practice and the Cuban socioeconomic system, including a historical analysis of Cuban literacy education since 1959. Finds high rote mastery of skills at the expense of creating a critical…

Contemporary schooling, particularly high schools, could benefit from a return to the model of Plato's Academy in which ecstatic experience provided a central and informative role in addressing the higher stages of human development. Supplementing traditional curricula with integral practices that address body, mind, and spirit, and reviving the…

Discusses using audiation and music aptitudes as teaching tools to allow students to reach their full music potential. Describes music audiation and aptitudes and focuses on the importance of early music experiences for developing music vocabularies and musical aptitude. (CMK)

Discusses a University of Arizona History and Philosophy in Art Education course and its use of distance education. Focuses on conversational learning, describing the two forms of student interaction and the use of reflection on the distance education experience. Provides some topics to consider when using distance learning. (CMK)

To implement its mission of increasing participation in fishing and boating and the stewardship of related resources, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation solicited input from 11 experts in related fields. They identified 10 principles for education programs and recommended best practices in four educational areas: program planning,…

Surveys completed by 147 rural Missouri secondary science teachers indicated that only 70 percent were certified in their teaching area, lectures were the dominant teaching strategy, student interest in science was low, the use of inquiry in teaching was low, laboratory facilities and funding for supplies were inadequate, and teaching materials…

Presents the results from a survey on classroom conditions and practices of elementary art teachers in the United States and Canada whose students' artwork was selected for at least two of the last bi-annual Crayola Dream-Makers Art Education Program exhibits (1989-1995). Contrasts the results with two larger surveys. (CMK)

This article reviews transition as it relates to students with learning disabilities (LD). Specifically, it provides a discussion of transition planning for individuals with LD, an overview of state and federal mandates and initiatives that influence transition practices, and a discussion of transition practices. (Author/DB)

An overview of the legal status of special education in Israel, especially the Israeli Special Education Law of 1988 and judicial rulings, suggests that the law has promulgated a parallel placement system in which the special education bureaucratic system is empowered to act without parental input. Cultural influences are noted and suggestions…

Interviews with 15 families of young children with disabilities and 14 professionals working with them indicated that professionals have an understanding of the change in focus from child-centered to family-centered intervention; however there was some incongruence between family-centered attitudes and actual practice. Families expressed overall…

After hours of introducing team training, facilitation skills, and Total Quality Management tools, the old classroom practices of "chalk and talk" faded in Virginia Beach schools' technical and career education classes. Academic teachers also improved instruction, using innovative TQM tools such as nominal group voting, course mission…

Describes 10 educational practices to reduce fears of participants in adventure activities. Practices include formal informed consent, safety briefing, reassurance of nonjudgmental experiential-learning principles, statement of group and individual goals, sequential development of activities, "challenge by choice," instructor behavior and…

Used national sample of 3,595 public and 176 private kindergarten teachers to obtain information regarding teachers' practices related to the transition of children into first grade. Found that over half used some form of transition practice, with more private school teachers using transition practices than public school teachers. Teacher- or…