The fundamental causes of poor academic performance are not the schools themselves but the institutions governing them. Bureaucracy imposed by democratic principles vitiates the most basic requirements of effective organization. State governments must create a new public education system based on the market principles of parental choice and school…

Discussed is the background, performance, and future plans of the four medalists from the United States in the 1990 International Chemistry Olympiad. (CW)

Almost all applicants who have been admitted to medical school have obtained the M.D. degree. Given this success rate, an accepted applicant's economic security is guaranteed. Schools pay lip-service to the importance of students' character, motivation, etc., and continue to select students with high grades and MCAT scores. (Author/MLW)

Describes the organization of a school's physics competition for middle school students sponsored by Physics Section of STEEL (Science, Technology and Engineering Education in Lancaster) and an industry group. Presents one typical problem, marking, and prizes for the competition. A suggested marking scheme is appended. (YP)

Discusses the importance of competitiveness to the American economy and examines three areas where federal information policies affect American competitiveness: providing the private sector with technical information; making federal information resources available to industry; and restricting foreign access to those resources. For each area,…

The absence of major economic rewards for effort in high school, and peer pressure against studying hard, which results from the zero-sum nature of academic competition in high school, lead to student apathy. Only with a system of rewards within the schools and the labor market will this apathy be overcome. (BJV)

Presents a dialogue between Ralph E. Gomory of IBM and Harold T. Shapiro of Princeton University concerning what science, technology, and education can and cannot do to establish industrial leadership. The discussion focuses on the role of universities and industry, scientific literacy, and cooperation between universities and industry. (YP)

Views about the purposes of school, motivational orientations, and beliefs about the causes of academic success were examined in a sample of 119 seventh- and eighth-grade students of very high academic ability and attainment. Results indicate that competitive and acquisitive attitudes may be incompatible with interest in learning. (TJH)

A collection of anecdotes and ideas about tenure includes such topics as competition, faculty dismissal, job security, use of part-time faculty, governance, and the role of higher education. It ends with a call for a major task force effort to address the problem comprehensively. (MSE)

Annotated bibliography of 220 books, monographs, and journal articles on orienteering published 1984-94, from SPOLIT database of the Federal Institute of Sport Science (Cologne, Germany). Annotations in English or German. Ten sections including psychological, physiological, health, sociological, and environmental aspects; training and coaching;…

Presents objectives and implementation goals formulated by the Information Industry Association for the anticipated rapid expansion of the telecommunications infrastructure. Highlights include market forces; the role of state, national, and international governments; competition versus regulation; maintenance of reasonable rates; worldwide public…

Reports on a study of 226 high school students to examine the effects of competitive and noncompetitive performance goals on their ratings of band performances. Finds that secondary students approach competitive and noncompetitive music performance goals differently. (CFR)

A survey of 177 teaching hospitals investigated, first, the extent of cooperation between hospital continuing medical education (CME) providers and medical schools and, second, whether community hospitals will seek competitive or cooperative relationships with medical schools for CME in the near future. A trend toward collaboration was found.…

Summarizes a study using a service marketing-mix model (promoting product, place, price, promotion, people, processes, and proof) to document educational marketing practices in 11 public and private British schools. The schools visited evinced a general lack of coherent marketing practice. Administrators had little management training in…

Maintains that there is nothing more relevant in the lives of middle school students than being caught up in the competitive spirit of a game. Describes the use of a football-type classroom game as a methodology for helping students plan for a unit test. Includes game objectives and step-by-step instructional procedures. (CFR)