From 1952 onwards, following the approval of the "Second Five-year Plan," a series of profound changes took place in the Argentinean national curriculum and in its schoolbooks. Some authors have pointed out that such changes implied the use of the educational system as an "agency for indoctrination." Other authors have…

Using data from a study of the National Curriculum Physical Education for state schools in England and Wales, the paper examines how the political right has attempted to regulate and control the remaking of the National Curriculum and embed the principles of cultural restoration in the physical education curriculum. (SM)

Presents propositions about the literary canon in the British National Curriculum: it betrays sacred origins, it is a social construct, its control reflects political power, it is not inevitable, and neither the unitary nor the pluralistic model is without flaws. A middle ground between centralized prescription and free for all is advocated. (SK)

Describes one secondary educator's experiences teaching in Belfast, Northern Ireland, noting differences in education practice between Northern Ireland and the United States. The article highlights the pastoral system (in which teachers monitor students' welfare), the national curriculum, and changing schools (schools are beginning to try an…

Background: In this article we address some of the challenges posed by the development of national assessment systems and discuss the need for high quality information on trends in attainment; support for school improvement processes and ways in which learning should be enhanced through valid assessment. Purpose: Key elements are explored,…

The aim of this article is to explore, through the case of the official Israeli state curriculum, how the educational system is affected by social changes and how it responds to them, and to suggest curricular directions that go along with the new social reality that has emerged in Israel during the past decade. We offer a conceptual-theoretical…

The Swedish school system comprises: (1) Pre-primary school (Forskola), typical age 1-5; (2) Preschool class in the compulsory school (Grundskola) typical age 6 (participation voluntary); (3) Compulsory school, typical age 7-16, grades 1-9, and (4) Upper secondary school, 17 programmes (4 mainly academic, 13 vocational), typical age 16-19, grades…

From the perspective of lecturers in English and Humanities, this paper addresses the current crisis of managerialism in higher education, grounding the discussion in the realities of smaller institutions in Northern Ireland. It begins with the premise that the language of auditing, bureaucracy and accountability has achieved hegemony within such…

In this paper we discuss the idea of national education in Singapore. National education, broadly speaking, is a civics programme which seeks to instil a sense of place, identity and history in young Singaporeans with a view to developing national pride and commitment. We set this discussion against the backdrop of globalization and the idea of…

Reveals and calls into question Hirsch's core assumptions, locating them within neoconservatism. Assumptions include the following: progressivist monopoly in schools; curriculum incoherence; education as a cognitive-technical process; deficits in children's cultural background; and the existence of a common culture. (SK)

This article discusses how the media and schools are used as disciplinary apparatuses to resist and work against globalisation in Singapore. Aihwa Ong calls the deployment of state ideological apparatuses, such as the media and schools, acts of "reassemblage", when technocrats resort to assemble institutions, diverse Government practice…

Outlines five broadly conceived concepts of the role of English in the curriculum: cultural heritage, personal growth, cultural analysis, adult needs, and cross-curricular. Relates these five concepts to the history of English and its potential future development. (HB)

Examines how the social and cultural terrain of educational policy and discourse has been altered, highlighting the need for closer connections between theoretical and critical discourses, on one hand, and real transformations currently shifting educational policies and practices in fundamentally rightist directions, on the other. The real and…

This article raises questions about current educational reform efforts now underway in a number of nations. Research from a number of countries is used to document some of the hidden differential effects of two connected strategies - neo-liberal inspired market proposals and neo-liberal, neo-conservative, and middle class managerial inspired…

Against the backdrop of growing conflicts in Israeli society and concerns about its democratic character, the current curriculum guidelines and official textbook for civic education in Israel were set to offer a more inclusive civic education that would stress ideas such as pluralistic and democratic citizenship. However, this curriculum does not…