The 1983 publication of "A Nation at Risk" began a new reevaluation of American schooling. The issues raised in that and several more recent reports are summarized and discussed in this preface to the ERIC volume, "Trends and Issues in Education, 1986." This paper offers observations and reflections on the issues presented in that volume and…

The degree of professionalization of the field of higher education was investigated. To determine if higher education possesses unique knowledge and skills, a curriculum analysis was undertaken at Indiana University, Columbia University's Teachers College, and the University of Michigan. Using student transcripts, program handbooks, and university…

Specifically organized for the use of school districts that are located adjacent to each other but across state lines, this manual provides guidelines and procedures for determining the feasibility of sharing services across those state boundaries. The activities specified in the manual utilize school district information that is readily…

This yearbook presents 12 papers comprising recognized experts' thoughts about the content and organization of the various disciplines within the K-12 curriculum. These papers are as follows: (1) "Introduction: What Should Schools Teach?" by Ronald S. Brandt; (2) "Social Studies: The Study of People in Society" by Donald H.…

A three-year longitudinal study of bilingual curriculum content (BCC) was initiated in the 1983-84 school year to assess alternative strategies for teaching curriculum content to Limited English Proficient (LEP) students in Dade County (Florida) Public Schools. The BCC strategy (in which content subjects are taught bilingually) was contrasted with…

Intercultural education in the Greater Salt Lake City (Utah) metropolitan area seems to have minimal effect on high school students' behavior or attitudes. This study was planned in order to better understand the nature and dynamics of intercultural instruction in Salt Lake City. Information was analyzed from the following sources: (1) interviews…

The paper provides an overview of the educational system in Japan, focusing on revisions made since World War II to realize the national commitment to free, compulsory, and equal education. Efforts taken to balance nationally established academic requirements with local and regional needs are given special attention. The information is presented…

This monograph reports on an exploratory investigation of the impact of minimum competency testing on local schools. The implementation and impacts of test requirements in three Missouri and four Ohio local school districts are studied through interviews with teachers and administrators and through the analysis of written materials on the test and…

The introductory module in the 16-module series designed to train vocational education curriculum specialists, this module is intended for use in classes or individual study arrangements at the preservice or inservice level by students with varying amounts of experience in vocational education. (These modules are revised versions of earlier study…

Summaries of classroom research studies conducted in Finland on the development of educational aims are presented. Papers in this document deal with: (1) an overview of the purposes of the research project; (2) cognitive processes in classroom verbal interaction; (3) taxonomy of physical education; (4) objectives of religious education; (5)…

A study conducted in 1981-82 examined program organization in the secondary division of Western Australia's district high schools. Because small secondary schools throughout the Western World are increasing in number, the study had as its genesis a concern for such schools and an appreciation of the difficulties they face in maintaining viable…

A study was conducted to determine whether or not the Personalized, Individualized, Vocational Occupations Training (PIVOT) materials developed by the School District of Philadelphia were capable of developing entry-level competency in secondary school students in a variety of educational settings (comprehensive high schools, an occupational…

The Minnesota Gifted Education Master's Program (MGEMP), a project of the Minnesota State Department of Education, is designed to train elementary and secondary teachers for gifted education. The MGEMP had three specific objectives: (1) to teach candidates techniques for educating both achieving and underachieving gifted students; (2) to give…

This guide was developed to assist schools in the process of self-evaluation of their foreign language programs in grades seven through twelve. The principal focus is on the teaching and learning process, with an emphasis on the quality of the curriculum, the training, experience and effectiveness of the instructional staff, the quality of the…

A majority of those people enrolling in low-level further education courses offered through the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) lack qualifications and experience necessary to find good jobs, are disillusioned with secondary education, seldom recieve any further education, and are unemployed. To meet the needs of such students, the ILEA…