Discusses the status of the foundations of education component in teacher preparation programs throughout the United States. The national study identified patterns in undergraduate curricula, highlighted the institutional environment as it affects faculty in foundations of education courses, and conducted faculty self-assessments in terms of…

Presents a critical overview of educational screening devices and the means by which they should be judged. Topics discussed include estimates regarding the extent to which school readiness tests are used, objectives of screening, effectiveness of educational screening, defining the at-risk population, measurement problems, and measures for…

Points out how the theories advanced during the 1930s by Russian psychologist L. S. Vygotsky can provide insights to western educational psychologists as they seek to understand child development and, particularly, as they devise ways of working with socially disadvantaged and mentally retarded children. (DB)

Describes and presents findings from an educational research study in which 100 students in primary schools were tested with regard to individual variation which could be detected when the children viewed a white disc on a dark background which momentarily disappeared. Findings regarding the smallest dark interval for which the disk was reported…

Discusses a study undertaken to determine whether young children are aware that people differ in skin color and to assess the value judgments that children attach to their color-related observations. Findings indicated that among 120 children from a mixed-race primary school, the White children named White friends predominantly and non-White…

Discusses a survey undertaken to determine the views of teachers and students regarding the educational environment in three high schools in South Wales. Attitudes were measured with regard to student attitudes toward teachers, uniforms, attendance, curriculum, and study rooms. Students and teachers agreed on academic variables but differed on…

The article discusses fallacious aggregation of educational research data about individuals and/or groups (i.e., one not representing an appropriate real group or real individuals). Examples of four types of research are presented--real groups fallaciously aggregated, fallacious aggregates treated as real groups, real groups treated fallaciously,…

Describes ethnography as a form of research that allows the researcher to be part of daily events within the school setting. This form of research combines the objectivity of an outsider with the sensitivity necessary for understanding settings in which information is exchanged. (KC)

Presents ethnographic analyses of two school boards which are characterized by their decision-making processes. One is described as elite (conflict exists between the board and the dominant need of the public), the other as arena (representative segments of the public conflict with one another). (KC)

Discusses implications of attempts to specify teacher competencies. Points out that proponents of competency-based programs for teachers belong to the behavioral school of thought, whereas critics of behaviorism are often labeled humanists. (Author/KC)

Discusses three books which focus on educational reform in higher education. These books are "The Perpetual Dream: Reform and Experiment in the American College" (Grant and Riesman), "Interdisciplinarity and Higher Education" (Rockelmans, editor), and "Higher Education and Government" (Furniss and Gardener, editors). (KC)

Reviews writings of philosopher Martin Buber with regard to his position on the power of education to bring about a revolution from within society against political force and the concentration of authority. Buber believed that the objective of education was to educate individuals to authentic social consciousness and political purpose. (Author/DB)

Reviews involvement by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in educational reform in New York and/or in the United States since it was established in l960. Focuses on curriculum concerns, sources of UFT policy, and governance issues. (DB)

Questions whether scholars involved in educational studies should approach the subject from the point of view of established disciplines or from an interdisciplinary point of view. Presents position statements on all sides of this question from the writings of major educational philosophers. (DB)

Describes an experiment exploring the effectiveness of four teaching methods: formal teaching, guided discovery, free discovery, and play. Concludes that all methods except free discovery are effective as long as memory is emphasized. Includes the tests used for the experiment in four appendices. Relates present results to previous research. (DK)