Recent documents released by the U.S. Department of Education offer a negative characterization of Teacher Education. In a recent edition of "AACTE Briefs," Sharon Robinson (2005) points out the obvious: "teacher education has been the focus of high-profile and high-impact interest of policy makers for many years" (p. 2). Policy makers have cast…

Predominately White institutions of higher education have focused a considerable amount of attention on the underrepresentation of African American and other ethnically diverse students in colleges and universities. To address this problem, colleges and universities have focused not just on recruitment but also on the retention of African American…

Summarizes research findings on a Tennessee experiment in small classes for primary grades--Project STAR (Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio)--and on similar projects in other states. Discusses effects on student achievement and classroom discipline, effects of small classes versus larger classes with teacher aide, costs, long-term impacts, and…

The bilingual education debate often focuses solely on quick mastery of English versus native language maintenance, ignoring the more important issue of overall academic success for English language learners. Research suggests that the effectiveness of late-exit bilingual programs may be related to their provision of long-term academic support and…

Examines essential components of quality two-way bilingual immersion programs. Discusses language acquisition research underlying context-embedded content-area instruction in a second language; research on the benefits of bilingualism in terms of academic, cognitive, and metalinguistic development; and the link between bilingualism and positive…

Analyzes 10 widely used secondary history textbooks for references to Christianity and the Religious Right in contemporary American history (after 1945). Discusses the relationship of private faith and public behavior, President Jimmy Carter's faith and motivations, the Religious Right and politics, television evangelism, and textbooks' inadequate…

Presents an opinion on the appropriate use of significance tests, especially in the context of regression analysis, the most commonly encountered statistical technique in education and related disciplines. Briefly discusses the appropriate use of power analysis. Contains 47 references. (Author/SV)

Summarizes factors in cultural experience that affect approaches to learning and problem solving. Reviews evidence of the past 30 years on cognitive style differences in U.S. culturally diverse groups: Asian Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans. Discusses mediating effects of gender and social class within cultural…

Discusses three aspects of mentoring practices revealed by research on how teachers work together in naturalistic elementary school settings: (1) mentoring is just one of several types of supportive behaviors needed and practiced by teachers; (2) support networks differ between male and female teachers; and (3) informal mentoring occurs in schools…

Outlines the principal's key role in mentor programs for beginning teacher induction: initiating the program, defining the needs of beginning teachers, selecting mentors, defining mentors' roles, providing training for mentors, staying personally involved with both mentors and beginning teachers, and evaluating the program. (SV)

During a meeting of the Ohio Education Association, teachers raised concerns about a pending state mandate requiring school districts to provide mentoring programs for beginning teachers. Concerns relevant to teacher unions/organizations included funding for adequate teacher release time, the mentor role, mentor selection, training, scheduling of…

Dichotomizes academic research and educational policymaking as distinct and often conflicting cultures. Examines legislative support of higher education as an illustration of the research-policy disconnection. Summarizes recent criticisms of higher education research. Discusses differing "mind frames" of researchers and policymakers, their mutual…

The faculty career is changing in response to external and internal pressures. Discusses pressures for institutional change, current faculty demographics, and possible institutional responses including modifications to traditional tenure systems (changes to the probationary period and time base of tenure, productivity concerns) and faculty career…

Defines educational voucher programs and summarizes arguments in their favor. Discusses the strength of the voucher movement, the ideology and attitudes behind it, and the current extent of voucher programs in the United States. Reviews research on publicly funded voucher programs, focusing on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and the…

Brief case study of Internet applications in a fifth-grade class demonstrates that Internet use can increase student engagement and participation. Overview of the current debate on networking schools for Internet access discusses the rationale for Internet use, issues of cost effectiveness and untrained teachers, and potential benefits of…