Maintains that the standardized teacher/course evaluation form has become a ritual at virtually every major U.S. university. Argues that many good teachers are unrewarded, ineffective ones win prizes, and the evaluation process is a means of monitoring political orthodoxy. (CFR)

This paper describes the goals, planning, governance, faculty roles, faculty development, and research activities at two professional development schools (PDSs) affiliated with Armstrong State College (Georgia). The college launched PDS partnerships with White Bluff Elementary School and Bartlett Middle School in September 1993. The roles of…

The New York Public Library Centers for Reading and Writing developed a Saturday writing class for adult literacy students. The class design also provided an opportunity to train volunteers and professional teachers in this model of writing instruction. One project goal was to formulate suggestions for others setting up such courses, which follow.…

This report describes teacher education programs, courses, and school-based experiences being collaboratively planned and implemented in Texas. The programs represent efforts to eliminate dissonance between what preservice teachers are prepared to do and what they are expected to do as student and inservice teachers. The report describes…

This report is based on efforts by the National Center for Education Statistics to collect data on teacher preparation and qualifications using a nationally representative survey of full-time public school teachers whose main teaching assignment is in English/language arts, social studies/social sciences, foreign language, mathematics, or science…

In this report of a working conference, experts in the teacher education field considered the adequacy of current research on teaching practices and obstacles in the implementation of changes based on research findings. In "How Useful Are the Findings from the Research on Teaching," Jane A. Stallings discussed findings from research on teaching…

A faculty exchange program was initiated between a university and a school district in an attempt to bridge the perceived gap between the role of the teacher educator and that of the classroom practitioner. For one semester, a physical education faculty member at Northern Kentucky University exchanged his fulltime teaching duties with those of a…

This paper outlines how shared decision making among teacher education faculty, PK-12 educators, and mathematics and science faculty lead to the preparation of quality educators within Wright State University's (WSU) "Partners Transforming Education: School-University-Community" program. This program was designed to simultaneously renew…

This brief examines the impact of teaching on student achievement, necessary steps for ensuring teacher quality, and policies needed to support that effort. Research has identified the strong connection between student achievement and teacher preparation and skills. Efforts to generate consistently high teaching levels across all classrooms must…

This report, in a booklet format, presents seven recommendations for increasing the numbers of highly qualified teachers for the middle grades. The recommendations focus on content mastery and professional support for both preservice and inservice teachers. The report also addresses the following topics: (1) what it means to be a highly qualified…

Criticizes the very notion of national standards for history. Maintains that the interpretative nature of historical study does not lend itself to the establishment of a single set of curricular standards. Argues that the most effective means of improving history instruction is to improve education for history teachers. (MJP)

Describes an integrated approach to preservice teacher education and faculty/administrator development that is considered essential in creating inclusive classroom practices for students with disabilities. The paper discusses the redesigning of general and special education student teaching experiences, arguing that support is essential for adults…

Considers the dilemma of the instrumental specialist suddenly forced to take over general music class instruction. Advises keeping an open and flexible attitude while realistically appraising the situation. Provides a list of helpful tips and the comments of instrumentalists who found the experience to be a positive one. (MJP)

Explores issues related to defining teacher leadership and discusses the implications for teacher education and schools through a synthesis of the literature. Also presents a university-school collaborative framework for the development of leadership in preservice and inservice teachers. (Author/SM)

This paper describes the experiences of several individuals involved in the initial stages of orchestrating a school-university partnership. A group of elementary teachers, a student teacher, a cooperating teacher, a university faculty member, and a coordinator of school-university partnerships participated in the experience and shared their views…