Public Laws 94-142 and 99-457 mandate the provision of surrogate parents to represent parentless disabled children in acquiring educational services. Described are the rights and responsibilities of surrogate parents, their role in case conferences and in development of individualized education programs, and the activities of the Indiana Surrogate…

Suggests that most current college English curricula, consisting largely of required survey courses, traditional electives, and new elective courses in subjects such as film and science fiction, do not appear to students to be coherent or to meet their needs. Offers two alternative curricula: one based on knowledge of alternative worlds, the other…

Analyzes the demographics, motivation, and environment of the lifelong learner. Offers potential responses of community college educators to meet their needs. Calls upon community colleges to fulfill a genuine social responsibility to lessen the gap between adults with formal education and those without it. (JM)

Criticizes the compartmentalization of educational practices into a hierarchy of general, vocational, and social. Argues for a more holistic integration of technology, vocation, and education reflecting a vision of lifelong learning and meaningful work. Discusses examples of this including the Scandinavian tradition of "Sloyd"…

Examines three arguments supporting music education in the schools: (1) music education is vital to individual development; (2) musical experience involves a special kind of knowledge; and (3) the richness of musical experience justifies itself. Posits the the third argument as the strongest for building a supportive consensus. (MJP)

Discusses some of the cultural and logistical challenges faced by service learning projects. Theses challenges include a predisposition toward individualism over collective action, lack of time and emphasis on traditional learning. Provides strategies and approaches for overcoming these challenges. Includes a sample questionnaire for parents and…

Argues that the increased interest in self-esteem over the last 20 years has dovetailed with narcissistic elements in society to produce an epidemic of egocentric behavior. Posits the development of moral education as a possible corrective to this. Includes an eight-phase model for accomplishing this. (MJP)

Surveyed 372 institutions with data from the American College Testing Assessment Program's Student Profile Section (ACT SPS) on entering freshmen who needed help in deciding their majors and careers. Investigated what percentage of freshmen need such help, and established a national profile of how colleges and universities respond to student…

Focuses on Australian educational policy-making, arguing that economic and employment considerations have dominated traditional education concerns. Examines reasons why Australian cultural borrowing has been unsuccessful. Suggests cultural successes in Sweden might be better models for education reform than those from economically successful…

The chairman of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (Australia) discusses the struggle to establish adequate child welfare services and education for aboriginal families and their children. Aboriginal people have resisted acculturation and the influence of racism to preserve their culture, identity, and extended…

British education seems to be quite narrow and specialized, contrasted with U.S. education. The English system is based largely on testing and more fully reflects its social structure (more class oriented and less flexible than in the U.S.). (MLW)

Examines efforts made in recent years to introduce ethics into the curricula of graduate studies programs in public affairs and administration. The questionnaire asked a broad series of questions eliciting both quantitative (program size, organizational structure) and qualitative information (educational goals). Includes statistical and tabular…

Offers a compendium of advice, case studies, teaching and organizing suggestions, and lists of resources. Addresses issues of concern to parents and educators alike such as liability, cooperation with social agencies and organizations, curriculum development and design, and locations to find instructional materials. (MJP)

Questions the use and adaptation of computers in the classroom as a panacea for all educational ills. Specifically notes that much of the nature and content of social studies instruction requires class interaction rather than computer instruction. Praises computers as instructional supplements rather than substitutes. (MJP)

Criticizes the state of primary school music education in New South Wales. Paints a bleak picture of a school system lacking adequate facilities, resources, and teacher training, and burdened with an outdated curriculum. Reform movements initiated in the 1980s have failed to correct these deficiencies. (MJP)