Emphasizes the importance of developing an Aboriginal form of education by Aboriginal teachers. Expresses concern that the western bureaucratic educational system will not permit a suitable Aboriginal system to develop. Describes the Deakin-Batchelor Teacher Education Program as an example of action research in Aboriginal teacher education.…

The issue of language variation is examined from three perspectives: the political view of nonnative varieties as examples of power; the anthropological view of language as an aspect of culture; and the pedagogical view of English as a static entity across cultures. Studies of teacher-training programs and teacher-trainee attitudes are included.…

Discussed is the elementary science teacher curriculum and its role in students' interest in science. Qualifications, teacher attitudes about science, college preparation, hands-on experience, science instruction, science method instruction, and the role of the administrator are described in terms of effective elementary science programs. (KR)

Argues that the definition of social studies approved by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) may do more harm than good to the Organization. Contends that history and geography groups now control the educational reform effort in social studies and that NCSS will have a difficult time regaining the initiative. (CFR)

Reviews "Standards for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers," published by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Maintains that the document does not vary far from current practice and that it bases teacher preparation on content from history and social science courses. Argues that more emphasis on learning theory and…

Argues that developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education is a good model for effective practice in teacher education programs preparing early childhood teachers. Discusses ways to design classroom learning centers for adult students, describes strategies for tapping into what is known about how adults learn, and presents the…

Argues that Aboriginal graduate students are creating a crisis for faculties of education. The knowledge needed to supervise them as they produce theses is not available. Expertise in Aboriginal educational issues, familiarity with literature, knowledge of Aboriginal languages, and understanding of the oral tradition are inadequate.…

This commentary provides an overview of federal initiatives to prepare teachers for working with students with disabilities, federal education legislation supporting equity and access, and remaining challenges for preparing teachers to work in inclusive environments. The need to ensure that students are meaningfully included is stressed. (Contains…

This paper offers a commentary, by a representative of the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education, on the Holmes Group publication (1995) titled "Tomorrow's Schools of Education." The Holmes Group is applauded for producing a much-needed, candid assessment of schools of education. The issue of marginal…

This conference presentation describes the characteristics of a living educational theory, explores its implications for self-study methodology, and offers a self-study from an educative relationship with a teacher educator. The theory has its basis in the following ideas: educators exist as living contradictions when their values are negated in…

This paper recommends new directions for teacher education in the preparation of early childhood (EC) teachers. It reviews the historic fragmentation of the field, present teacher education practice, and the changes needed to address the needs of children from birth to 8 years who increasingly live in poverty, come from minority populations, face…

Traditionally, the knowledge base has been defined more as product than process and has encompassed definitions, principles, values, and facts. Recent reforms in teaching and teacher education have brought about efforts to redefine the knowledge base. The reconceptualized knowledge base builds upon the earlier model but gives higher priority to…

The responsibility for ensuring that beginning teachers are competent to teach in the nation's classrooms should be that of teacher education institutions, according to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). Teacher education institutions must employ an assessment system that: (1) assesses specific competencies as…

Evidence from followup studies of teacher education graduates indicates that teachers do not value certain major components of their teacher education programs and do not really remember or know what their teacher education programs attempted to teach them. While educational experts cite the extensiveness and comprehensiveness of teacher education…

Under consideration in this conference was the idea that prospective teachers should be assessed on the ability to perform teaching skills relative to each other and that overall patterns of skill performance, not separate skills, should be used as the organizing focus of teacher certification. James Raths, in "Teacher Traits Revisited:…