An examination of the current status of minimum competency testing is presented in a series of short essays, which discuss case studies of individual school systems and state approaches. Sections are also included on the viewpoints of critics and supporters, teachers and teacher organizations, principals and students, and the federal government.…

The paper is a product of the 3-year project, "Functional Mainstreaming for Success," designed to develop a model for instructional mainstreaming of handicapped children (3-6 years old) in community settings. Thirty-two sources were reviewed which deal with the teacher competencies needed by regular teachers for successful mainstreaming.…

Maley outlines elements of a philosophy of teacher education. Walker describes a program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a field-centered, competency-based approach in which a team of professionals provides training and upgrading at the teacher's job site. (SK)

Reviews the Child Development Associate (CDA) program for training child care professionals, and suggests changes for both its immediate and long-range future. (Author/CM)

A single-letter grade, the traditional method of reporting the performance of student teachers, does not adequately reflect the strengths and weaknesses of vocational students' abilities to teach both content and skills. A criterion-referenced approach can provide a more descriptive record of each student teacher's competencies. (CT)

This article presents proposed guidelines for training of teachers of the gifted developed by the Association for the Gifted of the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The 12 guidelines cover knowledge of educational principles, ability to plan appropriate programs, and mastery of…

These 23 presentations are organized in five categories: diversity, assessment, distance education, learning, and teaching. Five papers on diversity include the following: "From Rosie the Riveter to Comparable Worth: The Infusion of Gender and Women's Issues into an Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Working Adults" (Linda L. Hulbert, Theodore A.…

Vocational education for 15- to 19-year-olds in England and Australia was compared. Recent literature was reviewed, and 20 individuals concerned with the planning and delivery of vocational education in England were interviewed to identify local and national practices and policies that are worthy of consideration for adoption in Australia. The…

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority was established to develop a consistent approach to the recognition of academic and vocational qualifications. The National Qualifications Framework was designed following surveys of a number of sectors: universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, private training firms, schools, businesses, unions,…

In December 1995, the Centre for the Economics of Education and Training (CEET) of Monash University in Victoria, Australia, conducted a 2-day conference on the economic impact of vocational education and training (VET). The following topics were among those discussed in the conference papers: the major changes that have been occurring in the…

To revise its strategic plan for vocational education and training (VTE), the Office of Training and Further Education (OTFE) in the state of Victoria (Australia) conducted a three-stage review of strategic directions of VTE in the state. In stage 1, the internal and external environments were scanned to identify major change factors and themes.…

These Congressional hearings contain testimony pertinent to passage of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1993, which is a bill designed to create a national framework within which states and localities can develop effective systems for offering U.S. youths access to performance-based education and training programs that will in turn prepare…

Present trends and future directions in postsecondary education in Canada and the United States are addressed in 15 essays and an introduction by Ron Duhamel. Authors and titles are as follows: "Traditional Values in the Contemporary University" (Robin H. Farquhar); "Facing the Future" (R. J. Duhamel); "Challenges to the…

Intended as a marketplace for the ideas and creativity of California community college faculty, this issue of "The Forum" contains not only articles on educational issues, but also short stories, poetry, and musical compositions. Included in this issue are the following: (1) "A Poet's Journey," by Nancy Edwards (poem); (2) "Toward an Effective…

Since 1971 dramatic changes have occurred in the field of adult education, especially in competency-based adult education and life skills/adult performance level curricula. In the 1080's, adult education will have reduced federal aid. Other changes may include a return of operational authority to the states and localities, a redefinition of the…