In this essay, the author argues that inquiry and engagement in the social foundations of education is fundamental to cultivating professionalism in education. As many commentators on the subject have noted, teaching does not meet many of the criteria of a profession derived from the sociological study of fields of work. As Joseph Newman observes,…

U.S. universities have had century-long success in absorbing existing professions into their curricula--by making academe their gatekeeper. These professions often started with apprenticeships and short training courses leading to a certification examination--and were then elevated and "academized" into a comprehensive body of knowledge,…

This article uses the concept of emotional labour to understand some of the changes that are ongoing in the teaching profession. While research has explored the impact of the new performance culture upon teachers' work and identified a marginalisation of the caring and emotional aspects of teaching, the concept of emotional labour allows us to…

A major cause of the decline in student achievement is the lag time between the rise of teacher unionism and the more recent rise of effective school management. Recommendations for improving educational quality include administrator leadership and refusal to be intimidated by unions, concentration on teaching the basics, and testing newly…

Why geography is essential and central to the mission of education at all levels and why the profession or occupation of geographers should become increasingly recognized are discussed. Some common complaints lodged against geography and ways to deal with these complaints are first examined. For example, it is often said that geography has…

Four brief articles examine the implications of restructuring, a central element in the school reform movement, for special education. Major areas of focus include curriculum, organization, and school governance, academic standards, discipline, accountability, restructuring the teaching profession, and the relationship between special and regular…

The stakes for California's schools and students have never been higher. More than 1,600 California schools are now on a statewide "watch list" for failing to meet new federal standards, a number that is expected to triple in less than 5 years. Many of these schools face federal sanctions or even takeover by the state. This year's high school…

This paper serves as a reflective dialog around the special circumstances of teaching in contemporary kindergarten through grade 3 classrooms. Three public school teachers who were prepared to teach in a program emphasizing an understanding of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) describe their experiences teaching in public school…

School standards and the educational objectives of Great Britain's schools for students up to age 16 are the major focus of this speech. Changes needed in the curriculum and in the 16+ examination system to achieve higher academic standards are examined. How to keep high-quality teachers is also discussed. (RM)

Four comments are made on the speech given by the British Secretary of State for Education and Science in which he urged that changes be made in the curriculum and in the 16+ examination system in order to achieve higher school standards. (RM)

This book discusses challenges facing teachers in the knowledge society today, focusing on the changing world and the changing work of teaching. Seven chapters discuss: (1) "Teaching for the Knowledge Society: Educating for Ingenuity" (e.g., profiting from, developing, and teaching for the knowledge society); (2) "Teaching Beyond…

This document, published by WCOTP in 1986 in observance of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, was jointly prepared by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and adopted by a special intergovernmental…

This North Carolina-based study argues that a reexamination is needed of the competitive position of teaching in the larger occupational structure of society and that the quality of the teaching force will not be raised merely by raising entrance or exit standards in teacher education. (JBM)

This book analyzes the transformation of British higher education from a closed, elite university system into an open, mass post-secondary education system. It sees the changes in British higher education as stemming from: (1) the rapid expansion in the number of students that created pressures for a shift to a mass, open post-secondary education…

Describes the history, recommendations, and impact of "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform," the report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education. Discusses broad recommendations regarding the curriculum; standards and expectations for students; time devoted to learning; the status of the teaching…