As Chinese characters ("hanzi") have three aspects--as a technical writing system, an aesthetic visual art (Chinese calligraphy), and a highly-charged cultural symbolic system--changing them is a complex process. In the 1950s when language planning campaigns were launched to modernise Chinese through "hanzi" standardisation,…

The government of Malaysia, whose universities are battling a reputation for mediocrity, recently announced plans to revitalize its lagging university system and turn the country into a center of higher education in Southeast Asia. At an August meeting of government ministers and higher-education officials, Malaysia's prime minister, Abdullah…

This article presents a brief historical overview on the origin and development of institutional autonomy and academic freedom in the United States of America and in Latin America. Such overview allows the reader to contrast two different geographical contexts, as well as different and even opposing opinions concerning the meaning of the concepts…

Use of children's books for instilling prevailing moral, political, and social values in children, particularly in Russia. (LS)

The steps that a country goes through in passing from an underdeveloped to a modern nation are discussed. (CK)

Discusses the most effective methods of lobbying: personal visits to the legislator's office, telephone calls, letters, contacts by other legislators, testifying at hearings, and telegrams. Less effective means are contact at social affairs, media, and petitions. The importance of lobbying to the future of adult education is discussed. (CT)

Discusses the impact of the work of Alvin Ward Gouldner, politically and sociologically. Stresses Gouldner's relationship with and writings on Marxist philosophy. (MK)

The Olympic Idea--an acquired educational cooperative-competitive attitude toward sport--is an important concept for athletes. This ideal can and must transcend nationalistic zeal, ideological struggles, and the omnipresent profit motive. (Author/RJG)

Discusses the importance of continuous lobbying by the vocational education community and describes the program developed by the Alabama Vocational Association. (JOW)

Patriotism can be a force for good or evil. American patriotism helped vanquish fascism; German patriotism helped create and sustain it. Wars of national liberation depend on patriotic fervor to oppose colonial rule; unfortunately, ethnic cleansing draws on this same fervor. Appeals to the transcendent value of the nation-state can be progressive…

The Step by Step Program was designed to introduce child-centered teaching strategies and parent and community involvement in early childhood education systems in countries of the former Soviet bloc, where rapid social, economic, and political transformations were taking place. This study assessed the program's capacity, reach, and sustainability.…

The post-apartheid National Physical Science Curriculum was implemented for the first time in South Africa in grade 10 during 2006. A variety of new textbooks for grade 10 have been published. This study was a comparative analysis of three popular textbooks, one prepared to support the previous curriculum, and two prepared for the new curriculum.…