The purpose of this policy report is to bring coherence to discussions about school reform and to encourage policymakers to use a consistent metric when judging whether reform proposals are serving the needs of children and the nation. The current confusion and policy debates over what is a public school--brought about by recent educational…

This professional development kit for teachers and administrators working with English language learners (ELLs) offers three videotapes of three presentations from the 2002 NABE Conference, as well as agendas, presenter's notes, classroom activities, a list of resources, and transparencies for half-day or full-day workshops. The topics discussed…

Adult and continuing education are undergoing simultaneous processes of institutionalization (adding schools for adults) and deinstitutionalization (broadening the scope of interventions and focusing on learning processes inside and outside schools). Lifelong learning assumes that learning takes place in all spheres of life, including the…

This report provides an overview of the state of vocational education and training systems in the Czech Republic, in the context of the history and the present economic development of the country. The report is organized in nine sections that cover the following topics: (1) political and socioeconomic background information, including economic…

Provides a thorough and comprehensive look at the role played by socialists and anarchists in the adoption of a militant program of popular education in Spain between 1868 and 1939. Their efforts spanned a broad range of issues including vocational training, cultural and artistic activities, and educating workers' children. (MJP)

Analyzes current education reform in Japan. Develops historical background, examining major educational reforms since 1868. Presents the National Council on Education Reform's stated objectives. Discusses lifelong learning, individuality (rather than standardization) in education and the reform movement's guiding principles responding to…

Examines the relationship between the National Standards and the California "History-Social Science Framework." Concludes that the two are mutually supporting with frequent intersections of material and objectives. Includes organizing questions and content summary, as well as a sample standard page from the National Standards. (MJP)

Asserts that the visual arts can play a unique role in reshaping education to address cultural diversity. Contends that models of multicultural education offer many alternatives for teachers. Concludes that continual inservice training is necessary to respond to constantly changing school populations. (CFR)

This article argues that California's reexamination of affirmative action policy represents a national trend that could result in fundamental changes in college admissions and employment policy, scholarship programs, and the diversity of college and university student bodies and faculty. The evolution of this situation and points in the debate are…

Discusses the gap between teaching theory and practice in the context of teacher education reform. Argues that radical reforms without an understanding of current issues and problems are a mistake. Concludes that a teaching competency model that situates teaching in its social context would be more appropriate. (CFR)

Examines the historical dimensions of school geography in Nigeria. Current reform suggestions include replacing geography education's theoretical orientation with more fieldwork and laboratory experience. Professional organizations could promote public awareness and increased funding. (MJP)

In this article, the authors looked at the effects of one old-style educational reform--higher course graduation requirements--and five standard-based reforms--(1) school report cards; (2) rewards for school improvement; (3) sanctions for failing schools; (4) minimum competency examinations; and (5) hybrid minimum competency exam…

Mauritius is a multilingual country with English, French and Creole as the main languages, and several ancestral languages which are mainly used for religious ceremonies. Most children speak Creole at home and learn English, French and one ancestral language in the first year of primary school. The educational dropout rate is 40-50% after primary…

This article is based on the Keynote Address to the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), Dublin, Ireland, 7-10 September 2005. It argues that we are facing the simultaneous renegotiation of the major post-war social contract (concerning the welfare state) in Europe and the renegotiation of a smaller-scale modern social pact: the…

In the last quarter century, China has come a long way toward building a strong contingent of secondary teachers, including English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers. Over the years, impressive progress has been made in strengthening teacher education and raising the educational levels of the teaching force, with the result being a…