The American political process and the institutions through which it operates are dependent upon a variety of factors: economic forces, demographic trends, cultural experience, and psychological dynamics. Responses of the political system to the forces shaping it are examined. (LBH)

The author discusses the political and economic content of college-level American Government textbooks from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present. (Author/RM)

A speech to the 1976 annual meeting of the National University Extension Association addresses the problem of who shall control, develop, organize, provide for, and profit from the continuing education of professionals in our society. Attention is given to the concept of professionalism. (WL)

Reports the results of a case study of the political decision-making process in Wisconsin through which control over educational finance reform was exercised between January, 1972, and August, 1973. (Author)

Argues that literacy professionals, in schools as well as colleges and universities, need to write for the general public, and that if they do not, they are contributing to an educational crisis of unprecedented proportions. Provides suggestions on and examples of how to write for the general public. (SR)

After 13 years of rebelling against alleged public school transgressions of parental rights, Citizens for Excellence in Education is promoting reconciliation with public school educators. Actions include focusing rhetoric on solutions, not problems; developing biblical support papers to guide Christian conduct; and promoting improvement-oriented…

The California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) was developed in 1991 to align the state's testing system to curriculum content and improve measurement of student, school, and district performance. CLAS was discontinued because of tension between political and technical factors, key stakeholders' divergent priorities and goals, and virulent…

Talks about the political and personal difficulties involved in "coming out" as a gay or lesbian college instructor and particularly as those difficulties concern the teaching of undergraduate composition courses with a syllabus addressing gay and lesbian issues. (TB)

Reviews 11 books that consider the politics of school reform. (MLF)

Describes how infant formula became an "icon of modernity" separating mothers from babies and causing health and social problems. Gives a 300-year social history of the rise in popularity of infant formula, covering aspects including the body as machine, rise of science and industrialization, formula and public health, the clean milk…

Since polls play an increasingly prominent role in shaping educational politics, educators need to distinguish between prevailing opinion and what polls really measure. Heroic leaders sometimes swim against the tide of public opinion and change it. Polls are fickle; they accurately depict near-future voting or consumer behavior, but are less…

Rhododendron Girls' State, a 5-day West Virginia citizenship and leadership program, offers female high school students the opportunity to directly experience the campaign and electoral process. Katie McGee White discusses her experiences as the first Girls' State governor in 1941, her love of politics, and how she encouraged her students to be…

Examines new forms of school organization that do not fit traditional definitions of public and private schools. Three case studies explore critical features of the public-private distinction, highlighting the fuzzy boundaries between schools that are clearly public and schools that are clearly private, and contending that their shared…

Introduces this special issue of the journal on context and culture in language teaching and learning, as well as each of the articles, most of which were contributions to a conference. The origins of this topic lie partly within theory and practice of language teaching and partly in response to the recognition of the social and political…

Discusses problems facing teacher education in the United States today, suggesting parameters for teacher education standards and examining accountability and standards. The paper explains why standards are not the answer, focusing on the need for teacher educators to have historical, normative, and sociological perspectives and assessing six…