The legacy of totalitarianism thwarts discourse and practice of academic freedom in post-Soviet universities. For legacy-holders, "academic freedom" causes disorientation, irresponsibility, demoralization and inequity. They see more threats than benefits from empowering decision-makers who are non-compliant with local bureaucracy. For…

The New Social Studies movement was an effort by social scientists to reform US social studies/history curriculum at all levels during the 1960s and early 1970s. In the end, more than 50 different projects attempting to revitalise social studies were developed. Many of the projects focused on inquiry-based teaching practices and curriculum.…

Discusses the "socio-play" philosophy of drama education as practiced in the Soviet Union. Outlines the basic structure of the Soviet educational system. Recounts a Soviet educator's practice of socio-play philosophy. (SR)

When Gorbachev came to power in 1985, he and his supporters signaled educators that schools were free to concentrate on education instead of enforcing dogma. Soviet secondary school principals are discarding old Bolshevist roles, including those of Marxist-Leninist-Communist watchdog and carrier of Communist command directives. Principals also…

Describes the efforts in the USSR since 1984 to develop universal vocational education. Discusses the motivation for this goal and notes that this changeover in education constitutes a major socio-economic task. Links vocational training with general secondary education, reviews the need for modernization of vocational education, and provides…

Discusses "socio-play," an innovative Soviet educational philosophy geared to developing individual and group creativity using theatrical techniques in the classroom. Describes how to use several theatrical games and acting techniques in the classroom, and discusses results. (SR)

States that the need for developing creative thinking is currently seen as one of the most pressing needs in the Soviet Union. Describes an innovative aesthetic elementary education program in which students, teachers, and parents work together. (SR)

Describes some innovations in the organization of children's and school libraries in the USSR which were facilitated by the Public Law of 1973. (LLS)

Describes recent efforts at educational reform in the USSR and analyzes the first results of these actions. Notes that educational reform requires not only improvement in content and organization, but also a change in teachers' consciousness and increased funding. Lists eight programs established to stimulate reform. (KO)

Presents an experimental secondary school curriculum as drafted by the Soviet Union's Ministry of Education in 1987. Intended for implementation (after modifications) by the year 2000, as part of perestroika and educational reform. Examines the curriculum's rationale. Lists school subjects, indicating number of hours and grades in which they…

This chapter presents the history, philosophy, and methodology of instructional development and instructional technology in the Soviet Union. It begins by analyzing the structure of the educational bureaucracy in the USSR and explaining the pathways through this structure through which educational decisions are made, and through which…

Soviet teaching experiments, based on the research of P. Ia. Galperin and of V. V. Davydov, are described, in which children are taught abstract concepts before they are provided with concrete examples. (GDC)

Notes differences between Soviet and North American concepts of instructional development, sketches the unique features of the Soviet educational system, describes the development of educational technology in the Soviet Union, outlines the role of Soviet "qualification raising" programs, and summarizes the status of Soviet instructional…

Music can play an important part in personality development. Music education for children encourages the capacity for creativity, improvisation, and understanding the beautiful and the good. This book traces the history of the music syllabus among teachers in the Soviet Union and discusses creative freedom and the instructor. It also presents a…

Designed to provide an international cross-section of data on science and mathematics education, this document describes the educational systems of countries that developed innovative approaches to science education. The science-centered systems of Japan, People's Republic of China, East Germany, West Germany, and the Soviet Union are featured in…