One reason reform does not dramatically change public schools is because instructional practices are highly institutionalized. This article advances a theory for how teacher agency can both change and maintain institutionalized instructional practices in schools. Based on findings from one U.S. urban public school undergoing state-mandated reform,…

Defining adaptive capacity as the ability of an organism or a social system to cope with a wide range of environmental conditions, physical or social, the auth rs examine the relationship between education and each of the components of individual adaptive capacity. (JB)

This paper offers a framework for the sociological study of formal education, with particular reference to the social history of the United States

Examines whether U.S. Catholic schooling was a part of mass schooling as opposed to being labeled as private-elite. Explores how urbanization and industrialization increased mass schooling, public and Catholic combined, after the Civil War to the 1930s. Discusses the findings in detail. (Contains 80 references.) (CMK)

The institutional divisions between academic and technical education at the secondary level in France are analyzed. A brief account of the development of French technical education is also provided, and how pressures from certain social groups have affected both academic and technical education is discussed. (RM)

Advanced capitalist societies are now in a period of protracted social crisis. This article discusses the basic impetus for educational reform initiatives in this time of crisis from an historical materialist perspective and, in particular, identifies the major social forces influencing educational restructuring efforts. (RM)