Though religion continues to enjoy a global significance for humankind, any justification of the compulsory status of religious education must be made on the basis of reason rather than public consensus. We live in a pluralistic world in which contrasting world views, grounded in radically conflicting ontological assumptions, vie for our…

Discusses factors that have helped democratize European education. Specifically examined are compulsory education, increased geographic accessibility, socio-economic and sexual equality, and educational purpose and motivation. Also discussed is why interest in democratization of education exists in most societies around the world. (AM)

Discusses how the histories of people, ideas, and concepts can be useful for the improvement of education today. Examples of historical analyses of curriculum development, compulsory education, vocational education, and teachers' roles are included. Historical studies comparing stated educational goals to actual outcomes are discussed. (AM)

Examines the role of the working class in the expansion of the American public school system from 1870 to 1900. In contrast to progressive and recent revisionist theory, the nature and limits of social conflict is identified as the key to explaining the growth of public education in the United States. (Author/RH)

With the change to comprehensive schools in Sweden completed, the author considers how education will be restructured in the future both at the compulsory and the post-compulsory levels. (SJL)

Compulsory education may be counterproductive for many students. Most children enter school curious/confident/enthusiastic. Successful students exit bored/obedient/passive by simply "getting through," and others perform poorly because of environmental/societal factors. Also, the current emphasis on formalized accountability methods distorts…

Attempts to understand the implications for education of an apparent paradox of the welfare state: a new culture of education has developed involving both individual autonomy and continuing attachment to public provision of education to ensure that autonomy. Compares England and Scotland to illustrate the complexity of the political debate. (DSK)

The present condition of rural education in the western region of China is not optimistic. Existing problems include lacking education investment, poor school-running conditions, simplified running pattern and laggard concept of education. The countermeasures are: firstly, governments at all level especially the center one should increase input to…

The institutional features of the American high school reflect its role as the custodian of adolescents, who lack any status in society beyond that of student. These features conflict with the school's educative aim of adolescent self-development; curricular and organizational reforms are needed to correct this dichotomy. (SJL)

The rationale behind the traditional grade organization pattern of pre-primary, primary, secondary, and tertiary is discussed, as is the trend to extend compulsory schooling later into the teenage years. The impact of these divisions and of compulsory schooling itself on equal educational opportunity is considered. (SJL)

Faced with the possibility of mandatory continuing education laws, educators can learn from the mistakes and successes of other professions. Teachers and administrators must take a leadership role in planning and participating in continuing education programs throughout their professional careers. (Author/MLF)

Gifted and talented children are exceptional and are deserving of mandated educational services. A rationale for providing services to gifted/talented children is based on examination of preference satisfaction, equity, stigma, and the effects of the availability of such services. A decision matrix compares policies across the specified criteria.…

A two-week exchange lectureship at the Russian Diplomatic Academy in Moscow is described by the American exchange professor. The focus of the lectureship was the vital role which public education has played historically in shaping the United States. The lectures were designed around three main themes in American education: historic purposes…

This paper attempts to develop a conceptual framework for describing the school as an organization. In the first chapter, after a review of organizational theory and research on the school, it is concluded that the school organization as a whole can be described in terms of bureaucracy and professionalism. In the second chapter, two basic…

Advances 14 general propositions on family and gender equity that seek to promote gender equality; an end to female genital mutilation; an awareness of sexually transmitted diseases; responsible parenthood and parent education; healthy gender relations; compulsory education for both sexes; and acceptance of unmarried or divorced adults, single…