This author views the CBS report "Is Anyone Out There Learning?" as an attack on education based solely on ill-informed cliches and anachronistic assumptions, piously intoned by commentators Walter Cronkite and Charles Collingwood. All articles in this journal issue comment on this television program. (SJL)

In this article, the author discusses viewpoints on civic education reforms postulated in "Where Did Social Studies Go Wrong?," a book published by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. The book begins with a legitimate concern about the need to educate youth to care about political life; a noble mission, dating at least to the Greeks.…

The prevailing view among leaders in the university community is that America is not investing enough in higher education. A recent survey of the American economy by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) echoed that concern. After all, college graduates are dramatically more productive than those without higher education…

This reviewer feels that the CBS television special "Is Anyone Out There Learning?" overemphasized problems and offered few useful solutions. All articles in this journal issue comment on this CBS News program, aired in August, 1978. (SJL)

A national study on strategic planning in Portuguese higher education was conducted. The presidents or rectors of 61 public and private higher education institutions in Portugal responded regarding their knowledge of and involvement in strategic planning. The questionnaire addressed whether or not the institutions were using a planning process,…

This article presents an excerpt of a declaration from the United States Department of Education's "Strategic Plan: 2002-2007." The declaration signifies in no uncertain terms that the battle waged by critics of alternative research methods continues, and is likely to intensify. The denigration of research methods which decline to adhere…

Presents a lesson plan for 4th and 5th grade students presenting four views of U.S. artistic responses to nature, society, and technological advances. States the goal is for students to analyze, compare, and contrast how artists define the United States. (DAJ)

Suggests there are flaws in the National Standards for United States History that could be detrimental to students. According to the author, in their pervasive present-mindedness and self-censorship, the standard's framers underestimate and ill-serve the students because the standards help develop a smug, superior, and self-righteous attitude…

Argues that the Library Bill of Rights aims to codify First Amendment doctrine and the interests of librarians but falls short. Law allows distinctions between government and private action and reaffirms the discretion of decision makers. The Library Bill of Rights, as shown in discussion of several court decisions, is often far more rigid.…

Argues that the rising tide of "efficiency" in contemporary education often masks reductions in educational quality and equity and efforts to reduce public investments in education. Analyzes historical and comparative examples in U.S., U.K., and Australian reform movements; the methodology of comparative education; and ongoing reforms in…

This essay examines Jefferson's Summary View of the Rights of British America as evidence of his craft as a storyteller. Specifically, I argue that Jefferson deploys a series of narrative renderings, the rhetorical effect of which is to eliminate the possibility of any genuine reconciliation with the English government. On the basis of this…

In this article, the author discusses the contradictory goals of several groups and individuals that are waging war against social studies and the historians' attitudes in response to this war. He stresses that he is not claiming that these "strange bedfellows," as he comes to call them, that are attacking social studies are working in…

This article reviews the literature on using behavior-rating scales to assess the mental health of children from different ethnic groups in the United States. Particular emphasis is placed on children referred to child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Differences between categorical and dimensional classification, as well as broadband versus…

Using material on race discrimination in the United States from three textbooks, a procedure for text analysis is demonstrated, including such matters as the "tone" of communication, the implications in the words used, bearing on conditions in the culture, etc. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

The author suggests that the complex educational problems touched on by the television special "Is Anyone Out There Learning?" can only be solved by leadership at the building level. This entire journal issue consists of comments on this CBS news special, aired in August, 1978. (SJL)