Describes how standards established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for its Early Childhood/Generalist certification serve the purposes of accountability-driven education and can revitalize teaching and enrich teachers' work with each other. The paper examines one teacher's experiences weaving the standards through class…

Argues that high-stakes testing is inconsistent with the National Science Education Standards' goals regarding what students are taught about the nature and purposes of science. (Contains 23 references.) (Author)

Six "silver bullets" that could raise student achievement are (1) set national standards;(2) make sure all students can read; (3) improve the quality of teaching; (4) demand from vendors better textbooks and teaching materials; (5) encourage charter schools; and (6) collaborate, coordinate, and redefine resources. (MLF)

Considers how the process of developing standards is similar to previous development efforts such as defining "objectives" and "competencies" just a few decades ago. Analyzes how such standard development processes when combined with high stakes tests place teachers in the position of implementing curricula designed by others.…

Suggests there are flaws in the National Standards for United States History that could be detrimental to students. According to the author, in their pervasive present-mindedness and self-censorship, the standard's framers underestimate and ill-serve the students because the standards help develop a smug, superior, and self-righteous attitude…

Reviews the European experience with standardized education, and discusses the cultural and democratic implications of a curriculum directed by national standards. Argues that national standards in education cannot solve economic problems or inequalities in minority access to educational opportunity. (SR)

According to advocate Robert J. Marzano, standards are the only policy mandate that can significantly improve student achievement. The standards identification process was clumsy, but started a national conversation about desirable subject-area knowledge requirements. Standards content should be cut by two-thirds; teacher-made tests can be…

Classroom music lessons are not usually a forum for addressing philosophical issues, but they can be. Through music and visual media, music teachers can discuss music with middle and high school students in a way that expands how they think about music and their environment. In other words, music teachers can open up space in their music classroom…

Representatives from 13 Central and Eastern European countries, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development met for 2 days in Berlin to continue European Training Foundation (ETF) efforts to design a methodology for formulating standards in vocational training (VT)…

Issues in the debate over national education standards for content and performance are examined in this journal issue. Interviews with three individuals in different areas of education were held, and each is described in narrative style by Anne Turnbaugh Lockwood. The first is with Linda Darling-Hammond, director of the National Center for…

Presents various questions and answers on issues concerning the federal legislation known as the Act for Better Child Care. Issues addressed include child care program costs, national and state standards for quality child care programs, and child care staff compensation. (BB)

Despite calls for a coherent national approach to curriculum, Australian States and Territories generally have been reluctant to shed any control over matters of education. The curriculum dynamic has been further complicated by a culture of schooling that emerged from the 1960s in which school curriculum has increasingly been regarded as an area…

Compares the educational productivity of the United States with that of Japan and explains how confusion of policies, lower standards, and demographic trends have contributed to this situation. States that, given the willpower, we can utilize research findings to increase our national achievement standards. (MLF)

In the absence of national screening requirements, physicians have been vulnerable to lawsuits following sudden cardiac deaths in athletes. The American Heart Association recently recommended routine cardiovascular screening for athletes. The article suggests that it is time for mandatory, national standardized cardiovascular screening for…

Provides a response to the April 2001 "Social Education" article, "A Critique of the NCSS Curriculum Standards," (Anna Ochoa-Becker). Focuses on the critiques offered by Ochoa-Becker that address the lack of time given to certain issues. (CMK)