Resources that are available for teachers presenting astronomy in the National Curriculum are listed. Included are societies and organizations, resource centers and places to visit, planetaria, telescopes and binoculars, planispheres, star charts, night sky diaries, equipment, audiovisual materials, computer software, books, and magazines. (KR)

A Canadian art teacher informally observes art education curricula and assessment methods in England, Wales, Scotland, and Holland; and compares these with North American and Canadian practices. Discusses issues concerned with art history, national curricula, and multicultural education. Suggests that systematic assessment of students' work and…

Reports on the state of transition in governance in English primary schools following the Education Reform Act. Analyzes contemporary primary school practices and their antecedents, then considers a proposed national curriculum and associated assessment procedures. Focuses on the preparedness of teachers to implement changes in the classroom and…

This paper summarizes a British study which examined the opportunities available for pupils with special educational needs and low attainment to gain examination qualifications at Key Stage 4 for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). Findings are discussed in terms of access to courses, changes in patterns of student placement,…

This article discusses the standards and practice for K-12 physical education in Singapore. A national curriculum (NC) guides instruction in all subjects, including physical education. A Physical Education Syllabus Committee has been formed and tasked with reviewing the physical education curriculum and revising the standards for implementation in…

Learning no longer takes place as effectively as it did before in most current Korean classrooms. Many teachers have voiced concerns about a notably reduced level of students' interest in and enthusiasm for learning school materials, lack of students' attention to their lectures, and lack of students' involvement in classroom activities. This…

Describes the recent work done in Great Britain designed to create a national curriculum in secondary schools in England and Wales. Discusses the organization of the curriculum with mathematics, English, and science being at the core. Suggestions for appropriate time allotments for different courses and themes are also provided. (TW)

This 1994 study evaluated the National Curriculum Council-sponsored multimedia mathematics package World of Numbers. The study in a comprehensive school found the intended use of the material, especially how to integrate activities into the curriculum, and the role of the teacher unclear. Presents episodes and interpretation of classroom…

Describes a means for determining student knowledge in science. Written in student-level language, WALLS contains statements about science knowledge within bricks on a worksheet. Students shade in bricks they know or activities they have done and part-shade any they are unsure about, giving a differentiated starting point that allows them to plan…

Defines and distinguishes three large dimensions of culture in relation to schools for young children. Introduces early childhood education's place in the Spanish educational system and the cultural contents that help children develop values and multicultural awareness. Details Spanish educational concepts and the ways in which Spanish teachers…

Asks theoretical questions about child development and how to define quality contexts for it in light of New Zealand's requirement that early childhood education meet quality criteria. Discusses principles that should underlie good programs, including a sociocultural theory of development and children's interactions with both teachers and peers.…

In Finland and England, national policy on subject- versus child-centered curriculum are moving in opposite directions. Comparative studies of four small elementary schools indicate that teachers' beliefs, values, and practices were powerful mediators of their interpretations and responses to imposed changes, and the ethos of very small schools…

In post-apartheid South Africa, a lack of adequate resources and political expertise obstructed implementation of a new outcomes-based curriculum. A policy review committee subsequently made sweeping recommendations for implementation. The experience highlights the need to determine the role of education and what schools can realistically…

This article reassesses the contribution of the Plowden Report (1967) to educational thinking in the United Kingdom. It discusses how the report was scapegoated by politicians advocating a performance-led approach and suggests the report, which advocated a holistic, child-centered educational approach, has much to contribute to present educational…

Many British students with severe learning difficulties cannot realistically be expected to complete Level 1 requirements of the National Curriculum. These students remain marooned on Level 1 and become failures through continual comparison with higher achieving peers. They should be offered appropriate non-National Curriculum programs of study…