A 1986 national survey of state agencies showed that level of foster care for handicapped children was lower than that shown by a 1981 national study of county agencies. Outlines limitations of collection of data from states and of comparison of two surveys. Discusses noteworthy increases in foster care that have occurred in some states since…

Examines the manner in which the data-driven character of child development research limits the validity and penetration of the search for new knowledge and understanding, and imposes a skewed image of what is known about children and childhood by excluding the less objective observations and insights of the clinicians and practitioners.…

Reviews significant findings from the author's research and speculates on differential responses to his work. Argues that appropriately chosen direct instruction in the spelling-sound code is the reality that will enable the romance with whole language to be a long-lasting one and that educators must let scientific evidence answer questions about…

People leading renewing lives typically recognize and break out of ruts; engage in self-inquiry; view education as a lifelong process; embrace failure as a learning experience; and pursue mutually respectful, caring relationships--a complex process. Reformers often ignore organizational complexities in pursuit of outdated accountability notions.…

Discusses and evaluates four different approaches used to study special educational needs: the Difference Model, the Developmental Model, the Ecological Model, and the Discursive Model. The need for adopting a multiple approach to the study of special educational needs is urged. (CR)

Notes the cultural turn in geography toward children's issues. Addresses four research issues: (1) background to current research trends; (2) ethical issues associated with working with children; (3) examples of good methodological practices for working with children; and (4) provocative issues dealing with geographers studying children. (DSK)

Argues that the prevailing computer science orientation to data visualizations is severely limited for addressing usability concerns associated with supporting users in three critical problem areas: sophisticated visual literacy, complex data analysis, and new paradigms of visual inquiry. Argues that current object-oriented usability…

Urges a reassessment of research on graduate programs in art education produced by Anderson, Eisner, and McRorie (1998). Asks how master's programs centered on studio art will produce teachers capable of meeting new national standards, and how highly specialized doctoral programs will produce people capable of teaching K-12 instructors. (DSK)

Urges a reassessment of research on graduate programs in art education produced by Anderson, Eisner, and McRorie (1998). Suggests that a few key findings of the study may be overstated or, at least, underinformed. Emphasizes a number of key problems with art teacher education illuminated by the study. (DSK)

This reprint of an article from 1909 responds to a study that found the oral method was not effective in teaching speech to students with deafness. It charges that the investigation was unscientific and driven by economic influences. (CR)

Haas criticizes Kannapel et al for conducting their "rural" research with school professionals and asks what it would take for rural schools to engage their communities and what, besides geography, makes a school rural. Kannapel et al claim that community concerns are not limited to rural schools and that advocates of systemic reform and…

Alternative perspectives are presented on the issue of rational suicide. An operational definition is provided; areas needing clarification are highlighted. The meta-issues are reviewed with regard to specific points raised by Lokhandwala and Westefeld. Concerns with research often cited to question the possibility of rational suicide are…

Gilligan's work at Harvard University has centered about the study of female thinking and moral decision making. She and her colleagues tried to repair the omission of girls' voices from the psychological literature. She is currently studying boys' narrowed self-expression and wants schools to amplify children's voices. (MLH)

Focuses on methodological issues involved in choosing instruments to monitor behavior, once a comprehensive evaluation has suggested trials on Ritalin. Case examples illustrate problems of teacher compliance in filling out measures, supplying adequate placebos, and obtaining physical cooperation. Emerging school-based methodologies are discussed…

Two decades after two U.S. and UK studies jump-started the school-effectiveness research movement, the American Educational Research Association invited the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement to present a symposium on international developments. The six papers herein critique and assess the movement's contributions.…