Rated first through fifth graders' political knowledge and recall of a simulated news story. Used path analysis to determine relationships among grade level, political knowledge, recall of specific story information, and generation of inferences from the story. Results suggested that children's domain-specific knowledge is more influential in…

Argues that artists, educators, and researchers who love theater, children, and theater for children can help to secure a prominent place for theater and the other arts in the futures of children by engaging in arts-based educational research that is story-based, compelling, persuasive, and artful and that aims at a wide audience of fellow…

Summarizes leading scholars' findings in leadership theory, local politics and government, state and national school politics, and change theory. Integrating this knowledge into a systematic reform effort requires superintendents with integrity and vision; political stability; good board/superintendent relations; long-term, statewide commitment;…

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) is a major component in the general design of the governance of Indiana's state colleges. This paper examines the CHE's history, discusses its relationship with Indiana's state colleges, and notes that CHE decisions affecting public higher education are often influenced more by politics, economics,…

Discusses language and literacy learning, and some current language arts practices that warrant reconsideration. Describes and offers examples of the move away from oppositional discourses (set up by pedagogical debates) and to the "radical middle." Notes a move toward a third place where two normative patterns of interaction intersect, creating…

Reviews seven books that deal with the subject of race: how diversity colors policy and practice in public education in three categories: (1) case studies, testimonials, and memoirs; (2) what the schools are teaching and why; and (3) a prescription for change. (MLF)

An Indiana superintendent outlines 12 cardinal rules for handling school board conflict. Superintendents should proceed cautiously, have a third party lead the charge or draw the fire, allow board members to fight their own battles, create a mirror with the facts, plan strategically, develop relationships with each board member, correct…

When seen as an ecology of games, reforming classroom instruction via government policy often appears less successful than policy makers envision. This study analyzes one midwestern reading reform by following games of the state, district, and classroom levels, showing how reform efforts are both interrelated and disconnected. The games'…

Presents reflections on the demise of this journal. Considers how the "New Advocate" stands apart as a journal that privileges the sociocultural and political aspects of children's and adolescent literature. Notes that it served important roles in developing and extending professional conversations about children's literature and teaching. (SG)

Presents reflections on the demise of this journal. Argues that in this capitalistic society, neither literary quality nor cultural authenticity are valued and the numbers of authors of color and high quality books that reflect the cultural diversity of our world continues to decrease. (SG)

Finds little evidence of a paradigm shift in capitalism or a trend toward a high-skills knowledge economy. Points out problems in demand-side proposals. Concludes that it is necessary to recognize the centrality of conflict, power, and exploitation in capitalism and outlines a radical political economy of skill. (Contains 104 references.) (SK)

Discusses how the economic downturn crushed a promising plan to improve higher education in Missouri. (EV)

Addresses the corrosive effects of corporate culture on the academy and society, arguing that neoliberal discourses of privatization and commercialization reduce citizenship to self-interest. Maintains that corporate culture ignores social injustices while emphasizing unfettered market forces, threatening understanding of democracy and the meaning…

Discusses political correctness (PC) on the college campus. Argues that what objective evidence exists suggests that PC does not pose an imminent threat to the academy or to society as a whole. Suggests that political correctness is mostly hyperbole and that both the left and the right play a significant role in regard to PC. (PA)

Analyzes events surrounding the 1993 withdrawal of Zoe Baird as nominee for U.S. Attorney General. Indicates that, under certain conditions, when deliberation by surrogates (professional communicators) becomes unrepresentative of the general public's values, direct popular intervention may occur through alternative communication channels,…