This paper presents two versions of a "story" about a man with severe mental retardation, one from an interdisciplinary team meeting reviewing progress and service needs, and the other prepared by a group of people who know and care about the man and his family and who sought a better response to his situation. The stories differ in the…

A reflective discussion is presented on the process of becoming an ethical researcher. Interest in the question stems from personal biography. The framework of ethical concerns of L. G. Roman and M. W. Apple (1990) is used to discuss seven issues that researchers commonly face: (1) the writing of a "true" account; (2) the usefulness of…

Many educators assume that close links between schooling and everyday experience are necessary for students to be motivated and to learn. That assumption should be reconsidered. To promote equality of opportunity and to develop scientific understanding, schools should help students break with everyday experience. Cognitive researchers recognize…

The philosophy of phenomenologist Maurice Merleau-Ponty, who views the individual and society as contributors to a dynamic, ambiguous process, is applicable to educational philosophy. Merleau-Ponty's concern with free men and their relationship to the world centers on his concept of self, others, intersubjectivity, and morality. The self's contact…

The advice of Jean Piaget on the role of the educator as promoter of human development in students is reviewed. Included in this study are his observations and admonitions about characteristic duties and functions of a teacher as seen from the perspective of his research findings about the development of human learning and the learner. (JD)

The effects of employer and user images of library and information work on the status of corporate librarians and the use of the library are discussed. Librarians' self image, attitudes toward corporate libraries, and sense of lacking necessary job skills are cited as possible factors. (CLB)

John White argues that autonomy is an essential ingredient in anyone's well-being. He holds that for educators to attempt to develop a pupil's autonomy is not an arbitrary imposition in the same way as inculcating a Catholic or Communist way of life would be. Flaws in his argument are discussed. (RM)

White defends his position that educating a pupil for autonomy, where she is left with the option of autonomously choosing to become nonautonomous, is not an arbitrary imposition in the same way as inculcating a Catholic or Communist or Muslim way of life would be. (RM)

Examines three recent books on Louisa May Alcott: (1) "A Hunger for Home: Louisa May Alcott and Little Women" by Sarah Elbert, (2) "The Promise of Destiny: Children and Women in the Short Stories of Louisa May Alcott" by Joy Marsella, and (3) "Louisa May Alcott" by Ruth MacDonald. (HOD)

Describes interviews with high school teachers and students from New Hampshire, Illinois, and Georgia in which the author asked teachers and students to define the term "character" as part of an investigation into the moral lives of children. (MD)

The author traces the self-fufillment movement from the 1960s to present and discusses three resulting educational reform attempts with respect to this movement: (1) humanistic education; (2) values education; and (3) career education. (JMK)

Young children have a sense of timelessness, while adults tend to be concerned about clock time. Adults who learn to experience timelessness again often feel a sense of inner and outer unity. The possibility that appreciation of the fine arts can create a feeling of timelessness is another reason for the value of fine arts education. (PP)

A poll of department chairpersons about personal and professional attitudes, motivations, and concerns is reported. Opportunity, challenge, and responsibility were recurring themes. Recommendations are made: giving additional released time, clarifying requirements for promotion, providing credit for accomplishments, publicizing need for unpopular…

Four justifications for liberal education are examined: the content of liberal education is of intrinsic value; liberal education provides the most effective means of achieving personal goals; liberal education provides a basic understanding of the world; and the most useful preparation for any career is not narrow job-training. (MLW)

Discrimination against Asian women is discussed in this article. Suggestions are made for self-development and social change so as to improve the status of Asian women in the United States. (MC)