This paper argues that education in the United States will be increasingly intertwined with and impacted by federal expectations, requirements, and standards. The paper describes the impacts and effects of national goals and national assessment on K-12 and higher education. A review of state and federal responses to "A Nation at Risk"…

In recent months the idea of a single national test seems to have lost some of its momentum, while use of national standards to which voluntary regional or state tests would be indexed seems to have gained support. Nationally, there does not seem to be any organized attempt to fuse the national education goals into the state process beyond the…

Focuses on policy issues that have affected arts education in the twentieth century, such as: interest in discipline-based arts education, influence of national arts associations, and national standards and coordinated assessment. States that whether the policy decisions are viewed as achievements or disasters are for future determination. (CMK)

Asserts that it is important to avoid bandwagon superficialities related to the interdisciplinary approach to arts education in the K-12 curriculum. Concludes that the overarching issue related to the National Standards implementation is how to keep content and process in a productive relationship. (CFR)

Presents a discussion by a panel of University of Utah faculty on recommendations made in the 1996 report, What Matters Most: Teaching for America's Future, produced by the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future. The paper focuses on the realities of education, standards and standardization, teacher professional development, National…

These national standards document basic competencies required for individuals providing adapted physical education services. They define qualifications for professionals in this field and the knowledge and skills needed by individuals preparing for the certification examination. An introduction describes the development of the standards, including…

A major review of vocational education and training has occurred across the United Kingdom since 1986. Employment requirements are being identified in the form of occupational standards that provide the foundation for the new system of vocational qualifications, National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). Standards describe what people need to be…

Questions how England's Secretary of State for Education uses the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) to define and control inservice teacher competency requirements, suggesting that this leads to teacher deprofessionalization. Recommends identifying threats to professional autonomy and preventing the TTA from moving to the next phase of regulation. (SM)

Focuses on identifying ways in which policy has affected arts education, specifically those that have evolved outside of arts education instead of within. Explores topics such as: the influence of national and state standards, the impact of testing, and the absence of teachers competent to teach the arts. (CMK)

Provides suggestions for encouraging elementary students to join and continue participation in school choral music groups. Recommends focusing on male students because they are the most difficult to recruit. Also suggests having a high school choral group come to the elementary school to help with recruitment. (CFR)

An analysis of the 1998 California educational standards confronts the assimilationist ideology embedded in the push for standards and accountability in American education. The standards explicitly define "America" and"Americans" as White and Anglo, ignore Indigenous history and contributions of non-European cultures and women,…

This paper examines the direct relationship between curriculum, instruction, and evaluation, suggesting that following a national curriculum and preparing students to take national examinations requires diverse teaching materials, teaching methodologies, and testing techniques to train students to apply their cognitive skills to thinking,…

Maintains that criticism of the National History Standards is inaccurate and politically motivated. Claims that conservatives value history instruction as an inculcation of patriotism rather than a search for truth. Praises the Standards as fair, insightful, and useful. (MJP)

Presents a speech by the president of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), given at the organization's annual meeting. Discusses the national standards movement and contends that the NCSS standards integrate knowledge from the full spectrum of the social sciences and the humanities. (CFR)

Presents a humorous speech given to high school English teachers on two serious subjects: externally imposed standards and standardized testing, and anti-intellectualism in the classroom and in the culture. Argues that English teachers themselves are responsible for some of the anti-intellectualism they encounter by teaching literature in an…