Teachers bring to their work assumptions that shape how they think about globalization. To prepare children to analyze globalization perceptively, teachers must stretch their assumptions and knowledge; teacher education can help. First, if teacher candidates have not already had substantive interaction with people whose backgrounds and…

"The logic of convergence and uniformity in teacher production" argues for a need to understand teacher education within the history of economic institutions. In the contemporary world, so the argument goes, where global information, capital flows, and opened markets are said to be making the world "flat", it is crucial to…

This paper reviews the conceptual confusion surrounding the concept "scientific thinking" (also known as "the proceses of science,""scientific processes,""inquiry skills," and sometimes, "the scientific method"). It begins with three separate arguments, each supporting a particular claim: (1)…

The developing field of cultural studies may provide a frame of reference for understanding the multidimensional nature of sport in society. Cultural studies may aid in understanding the relationship between sport, culture, and society. A framework for integrating cultural analysis and sociocultural criticism into professional schools of sport…

Reflects briefly on the history of the Montessori movement. Advocates restoring the AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) to its original dimensions. Introduces plans for "Educateurs sans Frontieres" (Educators without Borders), an International Study Centre, and the organization of the AMI archives. (JS)

It is often said that university professors do not really know what is going on in the classroom because it has been a long time since they taught in a public school. However, in teacher education programs that are certified by national accreditation agencies, faculty must maintain contact with the public schools by engaging in a variety of…

The purpose of this essay is to call for an active engagement of professional education faculty in the policy issues on teacher education. In this era of standards and accountability, an unprecedented number of legislative decisions for the education field have been made at the national and state levels, with or without sufficient involvement from…

In this article, Cochran-Smith argues that now more than ever, teacher education needs public intellectuals to challenge prevailing views and expose its governing myths. The author makes this argument by describing two issues that are in great need of public critique: (1) the myth that teacher education is a public policy problem that can be…

This article examines the standardized high-stakes testing in the wake of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) movement. It focuses on the political economy of the testing industry; that is, a look into the ownership, intent, and regulation of the private forces that produce, provide materials, prep sessions, and tutorials for and evaluate, report on,…

In recent years, the debate over teacher quality and preparation has gained new urgency. Competing groups of partisans have dominated this debate: one seemingly eager to assail the nation's education schools and to suggest that there is an insufficiently defined body of professional teaching knowledge, the other committed to advancing…

There is no centralized policy for using television and radio for inservice teacher education in Britain. Teacher training colleges have their own low cost production units, two cities have all their schools linked on a closed circuit cable system, and the BBC broadcasts on open circuit one or two series for teachers each year. The largest user of…

This paper describes the impact upon teacher education programs of government-led changes designed to improve teacher quality under the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. (Author/MT)

Critiques the position that extended teacher preparation programs are likely to reduce the quality and quantity of teachers and unlikely to improve teacher performance. Argues that to improve teacher education we must attend to the process of professional education. (LHW)

Critiques the position that extended teacher preparation programs are likely to reduce the quality and quantity of teachers and it is unlikely that they will improve teacher performance. This position is empty, lacking commitment to the larger vision of advocates of extended teacher education programs. (LHW)

Most reward systems for teacher education are not focused on preparing better teachers but on "vita puffing." The time is right for reward systems to be focused on rewarding those administrators and faculty who bring about improvements in their own programs. (MT)