Author Jane Anna Gordon begins this commentary by saying that early in her academic career she was struck by the dual character of schools as places that can damage and waste the human potential of some on one hand, and that can and should be put in the service of liberation on the other. She writes that this point was driven home to her through…

In this article, the author discusses the demographic trends affecting America's public schools. As an expert on empirical evaluation of education, the author believes the major debates over vouchers, charter schools, bilingual education, and other issues are not really about preparing the next generation to compete with China or India, or about…

Morrissey, Leikes, and Cochran (this issue) raise concerns about potential negative effects of state pre-kindergarten (pre-K) on the early care and education system. To put their study in context, I reviewed national demographic and enrollment trends. I found little evidence of negative effects from state pre-K policy. One reason may be that…

This publication reproduces the keynote address delivered by the author at the annual conference of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) in March 2009, in San Antonio, Texas. In her essay, the author discusses the significance of the growing Hispanic presence through the lens of education. To frame the challenges--and…

The number of full-time students in higher education in Britain (lower than expected) is examined. The decline in the age participation rate is seen, in part, as a reflection of disillusionment among parents, young people, and politicians over the benefits of higher education both to the individual and to society. (Author/MLW)

This publication was prepared as a tribute to Asian and Pacific American women. Stereotypes of Asian and Pacific women are discussed in historical and present-day contexts. Demographic statistics regarding families, education, and employment are presented to illustrate the impact of recent Asian and Pacific immigration trends. The emergence of an…

Three basic reasons commend metropolitan approaches to public school desegregation in urban America. The first of these reasons is widely understood: the racial demography of many of the nation's cities demands a metropolitan perspective on the process. Related to this factor is the second reason: metropolitan approaches deter resegregation.…

The introductory article to this special issue on sociocultural perspectives in special education focuses on sociocultural theory in the 21st century, especially cultural shifts as a function of history, demographic shifts, power shifts to such groups as nongovernment organizations, and the importance of assuring equal access to education for…

The conference on the education of Hispanics was one of five regional conferences sponsored by the U.S. Office of Education in conjuction with regional offices of education. Conference participants attempted to analyze the federal government's commitment to establishing and implementing equal educational opportunities for Hispanic students, and to…

Topics discussed include educational equality; development of scientific establishments; women's educational standards; education's role in eradicating distinctions between town and countryside and between physical and intellectual labor; vocational and technical education; cost-effectiveness of education; and the influence of education on life…

Changes in the composition of the group moving through the educational system will change the system faster than anything else, and it is noted that drastic population shifts are on the horizon. Half of the 50 states now have school populations that are 25% nonwhite, and by the year 2000, one in three in the United States will be a minority. The…

The changing demographics in U.S. institutions have contributed to the increasingly multicultural nature of classroom participants. Thus, teachers play a significant role in the desired educational outcomes when they value diversity. This study delineates a rationale for teacher education in terms of the multicultural construct. Multicultural…

America is still a land of opportunity for immigrants from all lands. This is especially true for Florida's Hispanic population. Led by its first Hispanic governor, Florida is setting the pace in helping minorities enter America's mainstream. (Author/BJV)

The organizational model used in American schools must be scrutinized to determine its effectiveness in the face of the changing demographics of American schools. Transforming the schools depends on social and attitudinal changes that incorporate political changes directed at social problems. (SLD)

This volume is the second in a set of two published as the 2008 Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education. Planning for the volumes began more than five years ago, when the Society's Board of Directors expressed an interest in taking steps to encourage a more expansive, penetrating dialogue about education in democratic…