Increasingly, foundations are choosing to engage in public policy debates as a way of leveraging their investments and increasing their impact in advancing improvements community-wide, statewide or nationally. For foundations, influencing public policy decisions can happen in different ways: funding policy research and dissemination, building…

Maintains that discriminations against children have increased recently, despite Convention on the Rights of the Child. Examines present condition of childhood in different countries of the ex-Communist bloc and Western world, particularly the levels of well-being and poverty. Attempts to understand the events that have marked reforms of the last…

The November 1996 national election pits different education philosophies against each other; republicans want more local control, fewer rules, and greater school choice, while democrats talk of more federal funding while balancing the budget. The future of the Higher Education Act, African American influence in Congress, education committee…

Traces the slow, incremental journey of President John F. Kennedy from a cautious supporter of civil rights to an ardent advocate. Until his June 11, 1963 televised presidential address, Kennedy's commitment to civil rights was weakened by his desire to avoid political conflict with southern democrats. (MJP)

Examines important trade issues and explains why the debate on trade policy will continue as a major political topic. Discusses the efficacy of recent trade agreements and the use of trade sanctions to encourage political change in other countries. Reviews several models of trade theory. (MJP)

Reprints two statements of the Academic Freedom Committee of the National Council for the Social Students on academic freedom and professional standards in social studies education. Stresses the rights and responsibilities of teachers, students, and administrators to protect the freedom to teach and learn in a democratic spirit of inquiry. (CH)

Maintains that political socialization research was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. Contends that most psychologists today argue for a theory of development and education that focuses on the individual's construction of knowledge. Reviews research on learning and concept development. (CFR)

Discussion of Romania's higher education looks at the crisis since 1989 and government strategies for revitalization, including expanded access, increases in social science enrollments, spontaneous establishment of private institutions, and the problems of limited resources. Comprehensive reform of the state's role in financing and governance is…

Maintains that economic pressure and military incursions supported by the United States have resulted in draconian cuts in special education services in Nicaragua. Prior to 1979, special education was extremely expensive. A UNICEF program, financed by the Swedish government, provides limited but effective support. (MJP)

Focuses on Moldavia, and its task of nation building--a task that depends, in part, on the effectiveness of the nation's educational system--following the demise of the Soviet Union. Provides a brief discussion of the growing importance of higher education, examines the evolution of higher education and management responses to the changing…

Recognizing that civic education is the school subject specifically dedicated to preparing students for democractic citizenship and that the school and classroom often have a less than democratic and value-loaded "political culture," this paper emphasizes the fundamental goals of civic education and then arrives at the ingredients of…

Seven articles on linguistics and language teaching, two book reviews, and four conference summaries are included in this volume. The articles include: "Laying Down the Law? Reflecting on Course Design in Progress" (Desmond Allison, Robin Corcos, Agnes Lam); "Beyond (F)utilitarianism: English as an Academic Purpose" (Alastair…

The five commissioned papers in this anthology provided part of the research base for the national report, "National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent." In the first paper, "The Performance of High Ability Students in the United States on National and International Tests," Carolyn Callahan describes…

This bulletin of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) sets forth the philosophic grounds for democratizing schools and the evidence from research as to why this task should be undertaken. In the first part of the booklet, a brief NCSS position statement indicates that schools should practice democracy and be able to instruct through…

Designed for use in the intermediate grades, this interdisciplinary unit helps students examine traditional and modern roles of women. Fourteen lessons focus on women's activities in colonial America, reasons for women's discontent, the women's rights movement of the 1800's, changes in the roles of women, enfranchisement of women, women's role…