School prayer is a "politics of life-style concern" issue, i.e., a group of traditionalists is attempting to reinstate prayer as an affirmation of their cherished and once dominate values, and a group of modernists is attempting to maintain the ban on prayer as an affirmation of their cherished, contemporary values. (RM)

Discussion of changes in the world of children's publishing and in the sociopolitical climate of the United States between 1960 and 1985 covers changes in the markets for children's books, subject matter, and formats, as well as specific trends in picture books and nonfiction. (EM)

Accounts for the surge in Afro-Brazilian literacy production of the late 1970s and early 1980s from the perspective of Brazil's changing political life and a growth of racial consciousness. Presents a broad overview of recent Brazilian political and literary history. Focuses on racial politics and Afro-Brazilians in the Brazilian literary market.…

A review of bilingual education's history in Australia indicates widespread support of bilingualism and bilingual instruction since the nineteenth century, but a decline and end to bilingual programs during the first half of this century. Different state attitudes toward multiculturalism appear to have affected this aspect of educational history.…

Discusses the norms within which Italian historical literature is produced, stating that they are important generally to the work of Italian historians and particularly in understanding the recent historical literature on Italian radicalism. Surveys the post-World War II progress of the historiography of Italian radicalism, recommending areas of…

Evaluation of state advanced technology programs has begun in response to budget reviews. Issues include: (1) political and institutional contexts of evaluation; (2) technical issues concerning outcome specifications, use of process indicators, and dependence on self-reported assessments; and (3) use of evaluation in policy making. (TJH)

Argues that comparative and international research in the United States reflects the interests of the United States government. Claims such an ideological position defines the field's theoretical and methodological parameters. Cultural studies offer a perspective on this bias and offer a comprehensive, contextualized approach to the study of…

Explores different ways of perceiving phenomena in micro-spaces that are essential to the understanding of reality. Specifically, analyzes the various manifestations of power within micro and macro spaces. Also discusses micro-macro relationships from a holistic perspective, and looks at problems of grass roots communities in their search for…

The growing restiveness and political force of the Mexican-American population is strengthening state institutions in South Texas, whose enrollments are predominantly Mexican-American and who are fighting discrimination in the state legislature. (MSE)

A discussion of the relationship of politics and the welfare of research animals looks at the nineteenth-century history of the issue, current activism in Europe, recent legislative and political action in the United States, and the position of the biomedical community, and provides guidelines for political action. (MSE)

Claims tests in this country have become political weapons instead of tools designed to assess the value and progress of current curricula. Calls for teachers to take charge of the tools (tests) to use them for the benefit of their students. (NH)

Under full scrutiny, the Strategic Defense Initiative program is revealed as a form of escapism from global realities, with dangerous and destabilizing themes for both the university and society. Universities must face this issue squarely, and limit their focus to activities best suited to an intellectually constructive and humane purpose. (MSE)

While Canada's system of community colleges, technical and specialized career institutes, vocational training centers, and other non-degree-granting postsecondary instutions have considerable diversity, the university system has limited institutional diversity, for a variety of reasons including geography, politics, and educational finance. (MSE)

The knowledge base of state politics involved in formation of educational policies has become richer and more complex, with individual research findings beginning to hang together. Continued study of political cultures and policy makers' orientations is needed to create a knowledge base that can support theory development. (CB)

Key policy actors in six states (Arizona, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) indicate a strong national consensus about seven basic policy mechanisms. While school finance dominated policy making, personnel, testing, and program definition policies had importance, followed by school governance, curriculum materials,…