The quality and effectiveness of teaching are a constant subject of discussion within the profession and among the broader public. Most of that conversation focuses on the question of how teachers should teach. In "The Enduring Classroom," veteran teacher and scholar of education Larry Cuban explores different questions, ones that just…

In "Confessions of a School Reformer," eminent historian of education Larry Cuban reflects on nearly a century of education reforms and his experiences with them as a student, educator, and administrator. Cuban begins his own story in the 1930s, when he entered first grade at a Pittsburgh public school, the youngest son of Russian…

Eminent historian and educator Larry Cuban provides a thorough examination of, and challenge to, past and present definitions of what constitutes educational success in the US. Cuban argues that in the history of American education, standards of achievement and inadequacy--as well as the reform efforts issuing from them--have been neither stable…

In this article, Larry Cuban discusses his ideas about the topic of this Special Issue of E-learning and Digital Media "Networked Realms and Hoped-For Futures: A Trans-Generational Dialogue" with one of its co-editors, Petar Jandric. The conversation explores the historical relationships between education and information and…

Describes how public schools, one embodiment of American dreams, have ricocheted, between dreams and nightmares and promise and despair, over the last century and a half. (RM)

Calculates average tenure of superintendents in 25 major cities since 1900. Superintendents' length of service has been decreasing, but not as precipitously as the press proclaims. A complex mix of environmental, local, and professional factors is responsible. The 1990 average of 5.76 years raises questions concerning the relationship of…

The open-classroom movement originated in British public elementary schools after World War II. American educators who adopted the trend viewed informal education--or, as they came to call it, open classrooms or open education--as an answer to both the American education system's critics and the problems of U.S. society. Open classrooms' focus on…

The job of superintendent is tough and demanding. Although conditions seem to be getting worse, the job has always been demanding because of its origins and its relationship with the board of education. As the job developed, dominant conceptions of leadership developed. The three dominant conceptions--teacher-scholar, administrative chief, and…

Certain educational reform proposals tend to crop up repeatedly for three reasons: (1) they fail to remove the problems they were intended to solve; (2) solutions were designed to correct different problems from those identified; and (3) the problems were persistent dilemmas involving hard choices between conflicting values. (TE)

This book reviews the history of the increasing importance of research and the declining importance of teaching at the 125 major public and private research universities (Carnegie Research I and II classifications), using Stanford University (California) as a case example. It examines how, over the last century, university structures and processes…

Why have libraries and schools---both public institutions committed to community-based learning---adopted new technologies in dramatically different ways? Exploring the differences of technology use in schools and libraries across the country, the authors describe ways that these two institutions can collaborate to improve teaching and learning…

The overall picture of high school teaching since 1900 is striking in its uniformity. In this summary of his research findings, the author suggests measures for teacher improvement that might be taken in schools of education and in district inservice training. (Author/MLF)

The nine-decade history of the Stanford University of Medicine (California) and its history of teaching human anatomy illustrate the recurring processes of curricular and instructional reforms in medical education and the ways in which these reform efforts do not disturb the traditional preclinical/clinical model of medical education. (SLD)

Explores teacher-centered instruction in higher and precollegiate education, a common practice despite professors' freedom from the precollegiate classroom's structural limits. Considers organizational incentives, the cultural traditions of schooling, and socialization as explanations. Suggests that reformers understand why teacher-centeredness…

Presents four versions of American educational history highlighting centralization/decentralization issues, American faith in schooling, and cascading national and international changes requiring extraordinary reforms. These diverse stories all arrive at the same conclusion--a need for national goals and performance standards to guide…