Florida's 1983 Legislature directed the Postsecondary Education Planning Commission to conduct a study of colleges of education in Florida. The Commission examined principally those areas relatively untouched by recent or impending changes. Legislation, board of education rules, department of education initiatives and independent actions by…

Schools, colleges, and departments of education are becoming increasingly accountable for the training and evaluation of competent teachers, and are developing new ways to evaluate their graduates and their programs. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) has identified three areas for evaluating teacher education…

An analysis of issues concerning the certification of teachers and the accreditation and approval of teacher education institutions is presented. In the first part, generally accepted definitions of certification, licensure, program review, and accreditation are clarified. A brief historical overview is presented of the state's role in controlling…

Maintains that courses in curriculum studies should be evaluated on "why" they should be part of teacher education and "how" they should be taught. Asserts that curriculum studies occupies a more tenuous position in teacher education than do established disciplines such as sociology, philosophy, and psychology. (CFR)

The educational reform movement, with its heavy emphasis on restructuring and collaboration, has brought into the open a serious credibility gap between teachers and the role that schools of education and the education professorate have played in educational development and leadership. Many teachers believe that professors do not understand, or…

This paper discusses the need to rethink preservice and inservice training programs for general and special educators who teach culturally diverse students with learning disabilities. An overview identifies problems associated with traditional preservice and inservice training programs, such as Eurocentric teacher education programs and low…

This paper is based on a memorandum written to the chairman of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois concerning the author's experiences teaching three undergraduate teacher education courses. The paper describes some of the difficulties and failures of this teaching experience and conveys general impressions…

Because discussions of educational problems seem to be retracing the same paths and problems, there is need to identify and define the enduring controversies in education and explore reasons for their currency. These issues are discussed in a historical context. The questions of what sort of education is of most worth and what subjects should be…

This book of eight separately authored chapters is intended to provide teachers and other educators with assistance in finding ways to improve student discipline by establishing and maintaining an effective learning environment. The first three chapters stress the teacher's role. Chapter 1 describes the planning, implementation, and maintenance of…

This publication presents recommendations for state policy that are meant to promote the simultaneous reform of both K-12 education and teacher education. The main body of the document consists of recommendations based on recurring themes gleaned from interviews with state leaders: (1) the state legislature should adopt statutory provisions…

The 12 chapters in this book argue that: (1) in the most successful colleges, preservice teachers learn how to convey knowledge to students while they themselves are acquiring that knowledge; and (2) the best teacher training is a synthesis of content and pedagogy, and of theory and practice, throughout college and beyond certification. Chapter 1,…

Compares and contrasts the composition of the Carnegie Task Force and the Holmes Group, their reports on teacher education, and their effect on the reform movement. Both groups recommend abolishing undergraduate degrees in education, raising teachers' salaries, increasing the number of minority teachers, and other improvements in the teaching…

Discusses the gap between teaching theory and practice in the context of teacher education reform. Argues that radical reforms without an understanding of current issues and problems are a mistake. Concludes that a teaching competency model that situates teaching in its social context would be more appropriate. (CFR)

Responds to James Leming's empirical study on ideological perspectives within the social studies profession and his assertion that teachers and teacher educators exist in separate cultures. Agrees with Leming's descriptions of social studies professors but not his recommendations to bridge the gulf between teacher educators and teachers. (CFR)

This commentary discusses some of the challenges teacher education programs face in preparing teachers for working with students with disabilities. Trends toward making teacher education more authentic, increasing opportunities for practicum experiences, and focusing on the abilities of teacher candidates to achieve student learning are…