Considers the effects of studying popular cultural and media texts alongside literary texts. Questions whether traditional attitudes about literary texts are affected by such kinds of study. Demonstrates that setting Andrew Marvell in juxtaposition with Madonna's music raises radical political implications. (HB)

Presents an allegorical and humorous story about the development of teaching methods (traditional and discovery) in Paleolithic culture. (SR)

Describes the management of academic departments in a university in Beijing (People's Republic of China). Discusses university structure and the role of academic chairpersons within this structure, how faculty are motivated through reward systems, and the role of politics in Chinese universities. (SR)

Proposes that English studies is not a privileged route to addressing and redressing social ills. Questions whether literary studies is now or has ever been a "serious" enterprise or whether those who engage in it are overly self-serious. (HB)

Advises school superintendents who sit at the negotiating table to develop personal detachment and remain quiet if the session is open to the public. Quotes several collective bargaining experts who say school boards are courting disaster if they allow superintendents to negotiate with teacher unions. (MLF)

The culture wars (fueled by Bloom, Hirsch, and others) and antiintellectualism have made universities vulnerable to political intervention. Academics must become more vigorous in defense of academic values, freedom, and integrity. (SK)

Offers thoughts about biliteracy and multicultural issues in education and reviews briefly several books on the topic that focus on Hispanics. (SR)

Controversy over a proposed outcome-based-education package in Pennsylvania forced school reformers to eliminate explicit values instruction from the curriculum. Although respect and responsibility were agreed-upon moral values, tolerance was not. Proponents erred by failing to publicize and promote positive aspects of the reform, underestimating…

Argues that it is not school policy and practices, but rather American governmental and corporate mismanagement and poor policy, that have caused economic decline and growing poverty. Encourages teachers and students to use reading and writing to develop democratic voices. (SR)

Considers the role of the English department malcontent, who constantly seems to spoil any chance of departmental consensus. Discusses the typical life of the English department. Analyzes departmental disputes with the aid of Jacques Lacan's notion of "jouissance." (HB)

Drawing on relevant literature and a qualitative study of 13 women superintendents, this article explains why an ethic of care is essential. Many women in positions of power use a collaborative, social-production model because they are uncomfortable with a social-control model and because they believe relationships are important. Study…

The European Commission supports critical inquiry for developing knowledge-based flexible skills. However, in Greece the highly centralized education system dictates curriculum, instruction, materials, and assessment decisions. Teachers are unable to have meaningful involvement in educational policy making. (SK)

Examines the long and conflicted history of the writing center. Argues that it is paradoxically the very marginality of the writing center that offers its workers the chance to serve not simply in a regulatory or supplemental fashion, but also to begin to form alternative and perhaps even liberatory modes of teaching. (SR)

Contrasts propaganda about language at different periods during the last 150 years in five localities: southern Austria; western Hungary, Karelia, Moldavia, and northwestern Greece. The study comes out of the little-known field of political linguistics. (Author/VWL)

Analyzes Gramsci's work on education, discussing right-wing attempts to subordinate public education and the role of cultural politics in spearheading this assault. The paper examines attempts by right-wing theorists to appropriate Gramsci's views on education for conservative educational work, noting implications of Gramsci's work for defending…