Economics is an applied social science whose technical formulations are embedded in a political, social, historical, and cultural matrix. It is the responsibility of educators to understand and to keep abreast of the nation's changing political economy. (IW)

Provides statistics on the United States' national debt and the budget deficit and warns of the dangers to the next generation if excessive federal borrowing does not stop now. (IW)

National debts and deficits are not the curse on the economy that they might seem. The goal of establishing a balanced fiscal policy will not be obtained by simplistic legislation calling for an annual balanced budget or automatic (and harmful) spending cuts. (IW)

Takes a strong stand against the Reagan Administration's conservative agenda aimed at promoting the interests of United States business while cutting back on domestic programs. Suggests that the administration is using the deficit "crisis" it helped create to justify cutting domestic programs and is relying on inadequate and misleading slogans.…

Summarizes the benefits of early childhood education programs offering new hope to disadvantaged children and long-range savings to taxpayers. Reviews major issues concerning public preschool education, including funding, eligibility, need for high quality programs with a child development emphasis, adequate staffing, and appropriate child and…

Discusses results of a longitudinal study comparing three models of preschool education for disadvantaged children: a teacher-oriented DISTAR program, a High/Scope collaborative model, and a traditional nursery school program. While all three programs improved IQ scores, participants in the DISTAR model reported twice as much delinquency as those…

Criticizes Lawrence J. Schweinhart and David Weikart's article on early childhood development in this "Educational Leadership" issue for overemphasizing inadequacies of the direct academic approach. Claims that findings were based on insufficient data and disclosed no significant differences in self-esteem, locus of control, suspension, and court…

Faults Lawrence J. Schweinhart and David P. Weikert's article in this "Educational Leadership" issue for concluding that disadvantaged preschoolers taught by direct instruction have twice the teenage delinquency rate of children experiencing the High/Scope program. Accuses the authors of exaggerating statistical differences, research bias, and…

According to National Association of Educational Progress (NAEP) survey data, student achievement improved between 1971 and 1980, especially for basic skills and mostly minority populations, and has remained level since 1980. Schools need to examine instructional practice from a student's perspective, promote higher order learning skills, and…

Summarizes findings and anomalies of the Nation's Report Card in mathematics education. Even though most 17 year-olds know a fair amount, eighth- and ninth-graders need "numeracy" courses that review formulas, percents, use of sample surveys, and correlations, inductive and deductive logic, and basic computer commands. Includes eight references.…

Discusses California's efforts to improve curriculum and assessment, including the new state frameworks in each subject area. California rejected existing math and science textbooks for being redundant and overemphasizing skills at the expense of meaningful application. New educational objectives are to prepare students for work, citizenship, and…

Although textbooks structure from 75 to 90 percent of classroom instruction, they are often criticized for contributing to American students' appalling ignorance and for being compendia of inadequately treated topics. This article explores deficiencies in science, social studies, and history and offers remedial actions. The key is a careful…

Describes some recent science education developments that might make scientific literacy a reachable goal for all students, not just the academically elite. Instead of inculcating "factoids," educators must stress depth over breadth, link concepts to instructional themes, and engage students through direct experiences and cooperative learning.…

In response to documented shortcomings of the mathematics curriculum and the national distaste for math, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics have produced 1989 standards outlining broad curricular goals and assessment strategies. The current emphasis on procedural skills must yield to development of strong conceptual knowledge and…

To fulfill expectations for history curriculum reform, schools must clarify essential instructional goals and objectives, provide increased instructional time for history, reintroduce history in elementary grades, obtain improved textbooks and materials, and provide appropriate teacher preparation and staff development programs. Includes 11…