Recalls the elementary and secondary educational experiences of a Canadian graduate student in education. Connects personal incidents to pedagogical issues of student performance, teacher student relationships, self concept, and social development. Concludes with a correspondence between the student and one of his early teachers. (MJP)

Constructs an effective and scathing criticism of the lack of supervision involved in one university's student teaching program. Includes a personal narrative of a student teacher dealing with confusing policies and sexually aggressive and drunken students without the benefit of support or supervision. (MJP)

In this interview with Susan Conners, a middle school French teacher who has lived with Tourette syndrome (TS) since age 6, she discusses her lack of diagnosis until age 36, difficulties in school, why TS should be listed under "Other Health Impaired" in federal legislation, characteristics of TS, and interventions. (Contains…

Used a life history approach to examine the narratives of white, female teachers in racially diverse classrooms who were considered "aware of race and racism." Data from interviews and observations indicated that teachers' perceptions of racial awareness were influenced by: perceived identity as outsiders which enabled them to…

Gives a personalized account of the individual development of one school administrator/founder in relation to a Montessori school's evolution. Suggests that the school must consider stages of development in teachers and parents. Discusses the expansion of services to a second charter school, identifying how failures can lead to success. Suggests…

Describes assignments which engage students and are suitable for end of year: (1) a video or booklet for incoming students describing what the grade they are about to enter is all about; (2) a book of poetry for a special person; (3) a research packet for next year's students; and (4) a letter from parents explaining their feelings for their…

Examines the possible roles and contributions of postmodernist thought to educational research. Models some of these approaches in its consideration of interviews collected during a project reviewing the careers of educational researchers. Provides a number of verbatim transcripts from the interviews and discusses their various narrative and…

Highlights the recent history of South African education using life histories of two black teachers (one beginning and one experienced) whose careers as students and then teachers evolved against a backdrop of social and political conflict. The article considers ways that selected theories of oppression and resistance explain or fail to explain…

Advocates a vision of social studies that includes the contributions, perspectives, and experiences of women. Proposes focusing on personal narratives as a simple and effective method for accomplishing this. Outlines a model unit of study for a grade four social studies class. (MJP)

Describes personal and professional pressures a first-year teacher faced when confronted with mandated standards in student academic achievement for at-risk students. Focuses on the teacher's efforts to: (1) examine student needs, including addressing test anxiety; (2) adapting classroom methods, including uses of practice testing; and (3)…

Recounts the evolution of the author's awareness of the importance of women's history. Discusses the strengths and limitations of three general paradigms for teaching and learning about women in history: the "great woman" model; the "women as victims" model; and the "women as historical supplement" model. (LS)

Describes the minority internship program at the Bowling Green State University library from the intern's perspective. Highlights include working at various branch libraries as well as a public library; library staff orientation; committee work to promote multiculturalism; and personal assessment of the program. (LRW)

A teacher discusses the negative effects of collective socialization on students in government controlled public schools. Suggested ways to deconstruct mass schooling include requiring educators in nonteaching positions to teach, simplifying the curriculum, making student learning relevant, keeping schools small and independent, getting rid of…

Narrative authority is presented as an alternative to positivism in teacher education research and curricula, emphasizing the personal practical knowledge of everyone involved in teacher education. After describing Dewey's conception of experience, the paper discusses the construction of knowledge from experience and the influence of authority,…

Proposes the triangulation of two qualitative research methods, hermeneutics and grounded theory, to illuminate clinical realities that elude alternative approaches. Discusses how hermeneutics reveals perceptual information about the uniqueness of shared meanings and common practices, and how grounded theory provides a conceptual framework useful…