A meeting of more than 200 representatives of manufacturing and service companies, leaders of associations, labor officials, education and human resource personnel was convened to discuss the proposed framework for developing national, voluntary, industry skill standards. Consensus on this issue is far from being achieved. (JOW)

Describes how "Principles and Standards for School Mathematics" was developed and its highlights. (KHR)

Notes that in England, literature (poetry, narrative, plays) is taught as part of the National Literacy Strategy and a child's knowledge of how it works may be assessed if literary texts are included in the end of Key Stage 2 reading test. Explores some of the dangers which result from viewing the minimum entitlement as the maximum being aimed at…

Argues that the development of national standards is another way in which the literacy crisis is being managed and maintained, a crisis arising from the tension between America's promise to the individual that he or she will have full access to intellectual resources and the needs of capitalism to have a differentiated, stratified workforce. (TB)

Discusses the potential impact of the School-to-Work program, which would involve a series of national assessments administered in fourth, eighth, and eleventh grade to determine students' career majors (based on predicted labor-market needs of the local workforce development area). This equals loss of parental and local control. The new economy…

Argues that one critically useful approach to a standards-based educational system is the learning style approach--that is, addressing the learning style strengths and preferences of students. Discusses what learning style means; notes research on its effectiveness; and discusses strategies and teaching-style characteristics to help students meet…

Comments on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics, examining the NCTM's intent when it decided to prepare the document; the anticipated use of the standards by teachers, schools, and states to change how mathematics is organized and taught; and the current process of…

Compares the National Business Education Association's National Standards for Business Education and the Vocational Technical Education Consortium of States' Administrative Support Occupations Skills Standards. Discusses their use in preparing secondary and postsecondary students for the changing workplace. (SK)

Professor Terry Wood of Oregon State University helped to craft national physical education standards released in 1995. An interview with Wood discusses how physical education has changed in emphasis and purpose, Oregon's inclusion of physical education as a content area in state standards, assessment and accountability for physical education…

Seeks to address concerns Shiland raised in a prior article published in Science Education 1998, 82(5), 615-617 regarding the National Science Education Standards (NSES). Discusses the failures of NSES and the consequences related to the cognitive abilities of teachers and students. (Contains 20 references.) (Author/YDS)

Urges the environmental education community to recognize that the time is ripe for educators to embrace education reform initiatives based on the National Science Education Standards, and the development of promising Internet resources for teaching environmental sciences. (Author/MM)

Would-be reformers in science education must focus on what appears to be a root cause of scientific illiteracy, namely a sort of "corporatist manifesto"--an unwritten ideology that transnational corporations use to control production and consumption to maximize profit. Suggests that this credo is manifested in take-for-granted practices such as…

The first of Goals 2000, "all children in America will start school ready to learn," has been problematic to measure because of the ambiguity of "all,""start,""ready," and "learn." A more measurable and appropriate statement would be "all primary schools will be able to provide developmentally…

Geography, long the neglected step-child of the field of social studies education, evinces signs of emerging as one of it key integrating elements. Its prominent inclusion and embellishment in both national and state standards and state assessments bodes well for its future. Higher education's role in this endeavor is paramount. The successful…

Paul Lehrman mentioned in Mix Magazine that school music programs, which traditionally have given students the precious opportunity to hear what real instruments sound like from both player's and listener's perspective, are in the toilet. Some within the profession have voiced similar concerns. K-12 music teachers have historically have had very…