Examines the various ways that social sciences can promote the social and governmental transformative process in Eastern Europe. Defines three functions of social sciences: to reveal real processes, to understand and diagnose problems, and to foresee future trends. Discusses the tensions among social scientists and policy makers and politicians.…

Presents a critical analysis of the reform of French preservice teacher education since 1990; in particular examining the difficulty of introducing change and noting how clearly defined political decisions can be diluted in the implementation stage by various stakeholders. Examines the creation and organization of new teacher training institutes,…

Narrative research creates such political issues as validation of narrative knowledge, relationships of power and authority, and distinction between the public and private domains. Issues examined are the politics of research in a "narrative" mode, which challenges traditional research; issues of power in collaborative research…

Reviews a book on the politics of educational change in Nicaragua, 1979-93. Following the revolution, the Sandinistas drastically revised curriculum and methods of instruction. However, when they lost political power, education in Nicaragua became contested terrain marked by fierce ideological debates, eventually rendering educational reform a…

The No Child Left Behind Act reflects a decision by Congress that federal money not be squandered searching for local solutions, but that scientifically based research be utilized to ensure that every student meets academic standards. The school improvement process requires that local stakeholders cooperatively plan an improvement process, and…

Examines connections between democratization of schooling and three dimensions of social structure: political system and governance, wealth/poverty, and gender relations. Discusses nine processes and strategies for democratization in education: definition of democracy, legislation and policy, decentralization of education, teacher education,…

The La Crosse (Wisconsin) School Board turned to the comprehensive school board development program offered by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) for help in governance policy. The board adopted John Carver's Policy Governance model consisting of ends policies, executive limitations, board and superintendent relationship, and…

Discussed are the intentions and strategies needed for developing a national technology policy. A critical technologies list prepared for the U.S. is compared to Japan's priority list. The history of technology legislation is presented. (KR)

Argues that standardized testing undermines creativity and individuality. Contends that standardized testing has more to do with control of education than excellence, and discusses the impact of the National Assessment of Educational Progress on educational control. Maintains that flexible, alternative testing can evaluate student performance…

Some important theoretical work done in the field of education/schooling has come close to losing touch with the hard facts of lived experience. Educational theorists must resist making untenable motivational claims for the power of teachers and students which ignore the massively greater power of capital and its allies. (IAH)

Compares administrative reforms and decentralization in the public educational systems of 3 Hispanic countries 10 years after transition to democracy. Discusses the effects of collaboration and compromise among political parties, incremental approaches to change, continuity of policies, costs and resource management, and formalization of…

The existence of a cabinet department for education has made education issues more prominent, but the Education Department is faulted for doing little to further the federal interest in providing education for minority and economically disadvantaged students. Educational policy making continues to be dominated by Congress. (MLW)

Examines the tensions created between public demands for curriculum changes and the schools' internal needs. Reports a case study on the implementation of a core curriculum in an English comprehensive school. Focuses on the work of the curriculum committee and the role of the principal. Assesses successes and failures of the project. (RW)

Outlines and analyzes reforms in Australian education over the past two decades. Argues that these institutional reorganizations and social movements reflect the New Right's political and economic ideology of economic rationalism as reflected in a new corporate hegemony. (FMW)

Provides a brief survey of libraries and library services in Portugal. Topics discussed include background information on Portugal's political, economic, educational, and library history; a summary of current library services in different types of libraries; and observations on the future development of these services. (five references)…