A discussion is presented on the education of Japanese teachers, their roles in the schools, and proposed reforms in their education. In describing the pre-World War II background of teacher education in Japan, three ideological forces are discussed: Western thought that impacted upon early Meiji reforms, Confucianism, and nationalism. Western…

Reviewed are recent studies of the cognitive development of Chinese children. The discussion identifies: (1) systematic studies of children's cognitive development; (2) studies on the development of thinking; (3) studies of memory development; and (4) studies on the influences of various national cultures and education on the development of…

The Indian student should draw upon the past and also think of the future. He should become familiar with one or two Indian spokesmen who have used their heritage in distinctive ways or who speak for their culture and its preservation. The student should examine his own environment, his classroom, and his associates to see if the direction that…

Focusing on the social nature of reading instruction provides another direction to research and study that both differs from and adds to cognitive research. H. Mehan's theory of social constructivism emphasizes that the development of cognitive processes occurs within the individual through the internalization of interactions between learners and…

The report examines cultural and social forces in the United States which discourage innovation and creativity. The history of American innovation is reviewed; innovation is defined as the process by which new knowledge is generated and applied in the material and intellectual operations of society. Effects on innovation of the changing economic…

The effective social worker or family counselor delivering health care services to the American Indian community will focus on the strengths rather than the weaknesses of the community and will recognize and use existing natural helping systems. The American Indian family network, for example, is unique in Western society and contains a variety of…

In his book, Sowell examines the extent to which a minority group's economic state depends upon the group's culture, and how much it depends upon the larger society's treatment of the group. His book is replete with historical and sociological distortions and oversimplifications; the level of Sowell's scholarship is deplorable. (BJV)

Effective schools must have effective leaders. Such leaders are those who can create and implement a vision of the school's culture that contains within it the values on which excellence is built. (BJV)

Illustrates some of the various ways principals may shape and change their school cultures. These cultures are composed of the shared norms, values, beliefs, and assumptions about the world of work that shape how people think, feel, and act. (BJV)

Presents a model of the sociocultural circumstances surrounding the development of language policies and planning and of bilingual education programs in the United States and three Andean countries: Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. (Author/CB)

Focuses on the positive and negative economic and political effects of study abroad for students in developing nations. Presents an empirical model, comprising 84 developing nations, to assess the long-run impact of study abroad. Presents five qualitative case studies that demonstrate the effects of study abroad on development. (SB)

This paper discusses the preparation of a diverse early childhood workforce, including the child care community, Head Start, and paraprofessionals who serve families through community-based programs that should reflect the background, race, and ethnicity of the children and families served (NAEYC, 1996), as well as the many fields that are part of…

Comparing the evolution of lifelong learning in Chinese Taipei and Vietnam, this paper describes cultural, political, and economic factors influencing approaches and attitudes towards the lifelong learning movement and makes projections for the future. Following a description of sources used, including informal interviews with 50 adult learners in…

The increasing percentage of children living apart from their natural fathers is an unpredicted, and not widely discussed, trend. Fatherlessness is a major force behind many disturbing U.S. social problems. The institution of marriage acts as culture's chief vehicle to bind men to their children. The absence of fathers from children's lives is one…

A review of the literature suggested that African-American and minority students bring a diverse culture to "traditional" college life. As a result, many institutions of higher learning designed their student services, student support programs, curricular and extracurricular to meet the special nature and needs of its minority student population.…