Writing practitioners, researchers, and scholars are at a juncture where foundational assumptions about the teaching of writing, its place in higher education, and its ability to help foster a truly inclusive democratic society are increasingly contested. Trust in literacy has been eroded over the past decades, coming to an acute crisis in the…

In the last issue of "American Educator," several scholars argued in favor of a common core curriculum. By common core, they meant that the curriculum should be broadly adopted (enabling improvements in instructional materials, student tests, and teacher training), but also limited (preserving instructional time for districts, schools,…

This article presents an interview with Linda Darling-Hammond who is the Charles Ducommun Professor of Education at Stanford University, the director of the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy and Education, and the co-director of the school redesign network at Stanford. In this interview, Darling-Hammond shares her thoughts on how issues of…

The author contends that education is implicated in the perpetuation of social inequity if it continues to present itself as the institution through which equality of opportunity is realized. Educators will make a step toward equity when they recognize that students do not have equal opportunity. (MD)

Examines presidential attitudes toward education and speculates on how a second Reagan term or a Mondale presidency would affect education. (MD)

British laws on education and sex discrimination do not afford girls equality of education. However, Britain's integration into the European Economics Community (EEC) may result in liberalization of laws as a result of European influence. (DM)

Praises United States Secretary of Education William J. Bennett's 1986 report as a readable, provocative document that restores central importance of elementary education. Disagrees with two improvement suggestions: elimination of teaching experience for principals and disregard of class size as an important variable. Sees improved instructional…

Comments on current efforts to evaluate and improve United States schools, especially the conclusions and recommendations of national education reports, tendencies in responding to them, and issues inadequately addressed by them. Both equity and excellence are important, it is suggested, and excellence may be achieved through challenge of familiar…

Excellence in education might best be achieved if a wide variety of educational options were made available to satisfy the broad diversity of student needs, if parents were allowed free choice among schools, and if parents, teachers, and principals worked together to make each school responsive to its unique constituency. (PGD)

Argues that quality is measured by outcomes. Lists potential measures for high school quality. Considers problems and approaches to the assessment of quality-with-equity. Suggests tempering performance expectations according to germane input characteristics, evaluating the range of programs offered, and addressing the issue in terms of…

Participants at a national conference on the school/college relationship make comments and recommendations in four areas: college admission policies, the role of testing in college admission, avenues for collaboration, and the impact of college admission standards on high school course enrollment. (MD)

In response to Fischer (HE 527 626), the author considers a proposal to simplify need analysis in Pell grants and other federal need-based student aid as having merit but threatening serious financial harm to many current Pell grant recipients and their institutions. It is argued that focus on budgetary advantages ignores potential dislocations…

In response to Fischer (HE 527 626), the author considers a proposal to simplify and unify need analysis in Pell grants and other federal need-based student aid as appropriate. It is also argued that a single need analysis is needed because the complexity of the existing systems is a barrier to achieving the programs' central goal. (MSE)

Since school busing has not desegregated schools, a plan is presented allowing students to transfer with free transportation within a school district. If this plan is not adopted, the need is cited for federal legislation that prohibits compulsory busing from placing a burden on any race. (MD)

Antonio Rigual, first president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, which represents the interests of Hispanic institutions and is an advocate for Hispanic students, talks in an interview about needs for change in education for this group, the role of the association, and strategies for improving Hispanic education at all…