Discusses how children evaluate the books they read, the criteria they employ, and how their ability to judge develops. (HOD)

This article addresses the issue of what the process of participating in educational criticism feels like. Certain intellectual and emotional pleasures and perplexities that were confronted by the author while taking part in an educational criticism project are discussed. (CJ)

This paper presents reflections and reconsiderations of notions about educational criticism. Several issues about the process of educational criticism need to be explored: (1) the metaphor of criticism; (2) exemplifying and elaborating methods for criticism; and (3) exploring the critic's role. (CJ)

A sequential skills program can provide a new and important focus for the K-12 social studies program. The reading, writing, and thinking skills which should be taught are discussed. Sample learning activities are suggested. (RM)

Evaluators can convey what Polanyi calls propositional knowledge by explicitly stating technical information. To express the residue left unsaid (ineffable knowledge), skillful use of anecdote, analogy and metaphor is needed. The audience must feel they have shared the evaluator's experience. (CP)

Examines the premise that increased research provides important contributions to decision making. The study counterplan assumes that information can be developed in a way manageable to the policymaker, that study can assist in choosing from a variety of competing values, and that thoroughly researched decisions will be procedurally superior. (JMF)

The author considers charges that public sector unionism diminishes democracy by requiring a sharing of public authority with private bodies that too often exerts disproportionate influence on government decisions. He questions these charges in view of declining public unionism and unrealistic assumptions about the nature of local government…

Evaluation as a field has moved beyond debating whether certain designs are good while others are bad to begin to appreciate that each of a group of designs may have its uses. The importance of good designs that reflect real-world complexities is increasingly being recognized. (SLD)

This paper argues that judgment-based assessment of data from multiply replicated single-subject or small-N studies should replace normative-based (p=less than 0.05) assessment of large-N research in the clinical sciences, and asserts that inferential statistics should be abandoned as a method of evaluating clinical research data. (Author/JDD)

Discusses the importance of philosophy of education in elementary education, arguing that philosophical reflection by teachers affects educational reasoning, thus strengthening curriculum development and teacher practice. Five contributions that philosophy of education can make to teacher development are described. (SM)

Discusses the process by which individuals come to claim authority and assume responsibility for their moral thoughts, feelings, and actions. Examines links between narrative and moral experience. Suggests that the development of moral authority is enhanced when individuals make the words of others their own. (LB)

In this article, the author discusses the issues concerning selection of educational policy that leans towards educational efficiency or educational equity. The author examines whether it would be necessary to choose between the two and compares the advantages and disadvantages of these policy orientations. The author believes that equity is part…

A new paradigm for evaluating school restructuring that is based on the teacher-as-researcher concept, or action research, is presented in this paper. The first section compares the traditional and new evaluation paradigms. The old model is competitive, one-dimensional, reactive, and based on external change agents; it appeals to fear and views…

Institutional research, as an established profession, has not developed a professional code of ethics. Reasons for the lack of such a code are discussed, and an outline is presented of the three major areas of institutional research ethics: treatment of research participants, research practices, and socio-political dimensions. A simple procedure…

Argues that students must be taught historical methods in order to evaluate historical evidence, determine its relevance to a topic, and produce intelligent papers. Presents an exercise which requires students to write a historical essay based solely upon provided documents, illustrating that interpretations will vary despite common facts. (GEA)