Basic premise informs the previous two articles in this same "International Journal of Educational Reform" issue: education involves knowledge and power; the social construction of literacy cannot be understood outside the political realm. Minority communities must challenge compulsory schooling rituals that mystify rather than liberate and…

Examines educational reforms adopted by the Soviet government in 1983-84 that provide for enrollment of six year olds in primary school, universal vocational training for secondary school students, and improvements in curricular content and teacher performance. Discusses the structure of the Soviet school system, inherent administrative problems,…

Compulsory education may be counterproductive for many students. Most children enter school curious/confident/enthusiastic. Successful students exit bored/obedient/passive by simply "getting through," and others perform poorly because of environmental/societal factors. Also, the current emphasis on formalized accountability methods distorts…

Presents an overview of the educational system of the Bedouin Arab minority in southern Israel. Inequities between the Jewish and Arab schools include (1) inadequate school facilities; (2) an insufficient number of qualified teachers and administrators; and (3) an unacceptably high student-to-teacher ratio. A clear reform policy for Bedouin Arab…

Attempts to understand the implications for education of an apparent paradox of the welfare state: a new culture of education has developed involving both individual autonomy and continuing attachment to public provision of education to ensure that autonomy. Compares England and Scotland to illustrate the complexity of the political debate. (DSK)

Probes the success of Vietnam in preparing for national literacy and universal primary education within a framework of increasingly fragile and threatened socialist principles. Concludes that Vietnam has substantial literacy for a developing country, but progress remains slow in relation to particular ethnic groups, rural areas, and women. (DSK)

The South African Schools Bill of 1996 mandates compulsory education between ages 7 to 15, improved financing for public schools and racially integrated independent schools, and election of school governing bodies. A national school building program and fiscal reforms accompany governmental cultural-inclusion efforts. (Contains 12 references.)…

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a state law compelling a child's attendance at a public school constitutes a violation of the parent's liberty interest under the 14th amendment. In Canada, however, courts have held that their equivalent to the 14th amendment does not encompass the liberty of parents to choose how to educate their children.…

Expounds why and how music education at the preschool level has developed in Denmark and whether it should be a part of a formal national curriculum. Addresses the role of legislation in this process and the major schools of thought in music instruction as a context for understanding the development of this curriculum. (CMK)

Content analysis of the curriculum and textbooks for the last four grades of compulsory education used in Bosnia and Herzegovina are presented. The major aim in this research has been to identify how issues related to democracy and human rights are presented.--Do the curriculum and textbooks support the ideas and behaviours recognized as…

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) decided in 1992 to develop four international networks among member countries to pursue the conceptual and methodological work needed to measure new indicators in different domains of education. The international study reported in this volume was made possible thanks to the support…

Although their perspectives differ, this volume's contributors agree that the home schooling movement offers an intriguing critique of traditional education. While nationally publicized school improvement measures call for increased bureaucratization, professionalism, and standardization, a growing number of families are choosing to forego…

The prevalence of home schooling is increasing. Parents educate their children at home for the sake of security, morality, and educational quality. Not only does home schooling offer the advantages of closeness and security, but advocates also assert that education in the home results in greater reading proficiency. On the other hand, antagonists…

Designed for use during compulsory schooling, the school career and health record described the child's knowledge, aptitudes, and general health at a given time. It was recommended that Council of Europe member states ask their school authorities to use the record for children attending school abroad for a trial period (ending July 31, 1982) and…

The author raises six serious doubts about the directions adult education is taking toward a society mistakenly termed "learning society," which is in fact an "instructional society." An ominous vision of "womb-to-tomb" schooling is evoked by the author's quotations from prominent adult educators who criticize this…