Vocational education should not be viewed as a separate content area but as part of an educational delivery system, making it appropriate for every student learning applied competencies. (SK)

Unions are natural providers of basic skills instruction. They are in daily workplace contact with their membership, are trusted to work on members' behalf, and speak the language of the worker. Unions are trying to address the needs of illiterate workers through collective bargaining arrangements in which employers contribute a percentage of…

Describes the four priorities of Ernest Boyer's "Basic School": the school as community; climate for learning; a curriculum with coherence; and a commitment to character. Suggests that the Basic School framework and the principles of "Information Power" are mutually supportive in developing a learning community characterized by…

Reviews changing high school science curricula in South Africa, outlining two recent movements: aiming syllabi at the 85% of students who do not graduate in the sciences, and teaching basic knowledge and skills rather than specific and narrow job skills that easily become obsolete. Suggests that closer cooperation between curriculum planners,…

Conflicting definitions reveal the diversity of motives and goals in the back-to-basics movement. Dealing with the problem must include consideration of the impact of television, the realization that basic and nonbasic education are complementary, and the need for coordination of K-12 and postsecondary education. (JMF)

Describes a project in which educators from several rural Missouri school districts cooperated in meeting state directives to define basic skills being taught, monitor student progress in those skills, and evaluate and improve teacher performance. Points out the short- and long-term benefits of this cooperative venture. (SV)

Explores definitions of adult literacy. The shift toward a more learner-centered education makes literacy meaningful to teachers and learners mutually and can be achieved through joint planning of instruction so that students share responsibility for determining what is needed. New definitions of literacy bring new insights. (SLD)

The Norfolk (England) Local Education Authority (LEA) undertook successful collaborations with employers, voluntary organizations, and the health service. Many employers were willing to invest in basic skills training for their employees in work time and in the workplace. They were more receptive if a need had been identified or employees had…