Broad proposals for reform of higher education in Hungary are outlined. It is argued that the change needed is so great that neither higher education nor government can accomplish it independently; instead, limited and controlled conflicts between the interest of higher education and those of society must precipitate action. (MSE)

A survey of approximately 150 Moscow (Russia) university students investigated cheating behavior and attitudes. Results indicated that most students cheated and justified cheating by finding fault with the educational system. It is suggested these attitudes are also linked to the overall structure of the Soviet system, and that Perestroika…

Outlines a concept of political virtue, and consequently of civic education, that attempts to give both criticism and emotional engagement their due importance. Educational implications of the concept are explored in relation to the development of a sense of history among students. (SLD)

Herrnstein and Murray's "The Bell Curve" claims that IQ is hereditary and that African Americans consistently score 15 points lower than other racial groups. Coolly received by academics, the book is being warmly embraced by Republican politicians endorsing fiscal austerity and social mean-spiritedness. The book rationalizes a…

Due to massive reform initiatives, American states have become major policy makers for public schools. Examines, from a state and a political-influence perspective, the causes, processes, and consequences of the decade-long "education excellence" movement. Places events in historical context, draws upon research findings, and applies an…

Addresses the African American presence in higher education and educational outcomes. Articles cover such topics as the racial composition in universities and colleges and faculty, race relations, enrollment and graduation rates, income differentials, political influences on black education, athletic scholarships, information specifically on black…

Reviews national efforts to define urban policies and programs from 1960 through 1994, and suggests reasons for the failure of most in meeting the expectations of their advocates or the American people. It identifies principles and policies that should guide future urban policy makers in dealing with the difficult problems facing the modern city.…

Issues and recent events concerning censorship of the arts in the United States are examined, and the threat to artistic freedom posed by recent Supreme Court decisions is examined. Focus is on erosion of the actual or imminent harm requirement of the law and on the court's class-based approach to free speech. (MSE)

This editorial reviews areas of health care reform including managed health care, diagnosis-related groups, and the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale for physician services. Relevance of such reforms to people with developmental disabilities is considered. Much needed insurance reform is not thought to be likely, however. (DB)

In the current conservative climate of higher education, questioning students' political beliefs is imperative for a real democratization of knowledge. Oppositional pedagogy pressures the assumptions of the existing system--the dominant knowledges and institutional and social arrangements derived from them--and enables students to change their…

Defines collaborating systems, i.e., hardware, software, communications, and people working together; examines the need for machine-supported collaboration; and addresses the major obstacles impeding the progress of collaboration, including economic, political, human, and technical factors. A framework for the implementation of machine-supported…

This commentary examines the political rhetoric evident in the education reform movement. Specifically, the paper questions what becomes of children with disabilities when schools feel pressure to improve standardized test scores and questions why educators are not included in the task forces of the National Governors' Association initiative on…

The history of legal education in Bulgaria is chronicled from the late nineteenth century through the communist period to the present day. Aspects examined include the politicization of education, curriculum changes, and the roles of students and faculty. Issues likely to arise in the future are also examined briefly. (MSE)

The performance funding approach mandated by the Texas state legislature and devised by the higher education coordinating board to appropriate resources to colleges and universities is explained, and the responses of institutions to it are discussed. Focus is on problems encountered and lessons learned. (MSE)

Fundamental tensions between the traditional notion of educational quality, the ideal of cultural pluralism, and public policy are examined in the context of higher education. The responsibility of the university and the academic profession to take a part in resolving those tensions through constructive change is discussed. (MSE)