This review of cross-national data on educational achievement indicates that the U.S. educational system has clearly been responsive both to the rapid changes in society and to its basic democratic ideology. (Author)

Analyzes the themes of 16 recent Iranian textbooks to profile the ideal Islamic person as seen by Iranian revolutionaries. Suggests that revolutionary values taught in the schools are consistent with those of other Iranian socializing agencies. Contains 25 references. (SV)

Examines literacy education in Iran, including educational objectives, content, student characteristics, teacher selection, textbooks, and obstacles to success. Concludes that Iranian literacy education is limited to reading, writing, and arithmetic, with no additional training aimed at functional literacy; and serves principally as a…

Uses examples from China and Iran to demonstrate that governments use education to mold people's beliefs about human development to fit rulers' political rationale. Discusses Marxist attempts to alter Confucian and Taoist notions about human nature, and the shahs' attempts to change traditional Shiite views of women. Offers seven general…

Elected president of Iran in 1997, Khatami promised to bring about political reform, freedom, and religious democracy. He charged schools with creating moral, politicized, and empowered individuals with a strong Iranian-Islamic identity, but capable of relating to the West. While reflecting some of Khatami's goals and values, schools continue to…

Social studies textbooks currently used in Iran have been rewritten since 1979 to achieve the socialization of children into current Islamic political thought. An analysis of the content of current social studies textbooks concludes that explicitly political textbooks are used to teach state approved values and appropriate political behavior while…