Pennsylvania's attempt to implement competency-based education in the public schools is a well-meaning but misguided effort to improve the schools. It will succeed only in diverting vast amounts of time, energy, and intelligence away from more important and more attainable goals. (Author/IRT)

A survey of superintendents in a nine-state region of the midwest indicates a shortage of good teachers in many areas. The predominant scarcity of teachers in all certification areas resides in rural districts. (Author/IRT)

Offers a brief report on the National Assessment of Educational Progress conference on minimum competency testing. Among the reports was one asserting a logical relationship between student competency testing and teacher competency testing, and one noting that no research evidence shows that mandated student competency testing programs are…

Discusses the recent Supreme Court holding that the Dayton, Ohio Board of Education has an affirmative duty to integrate its schools. (IRT)

Describes the problems the European countries are having in educating the children of migrant workers and some of the steps that have been taken to accommodate these children in the educational systems of the host countries. (IRT)

Briefly describes types of binding arbitration that various states have adopted as a means of preventing teacher strikes. (IRT)

Describes a four-part audiovisual portfolio that beginning teachers could use to demonstrate their teaching skills. (IRT)

Supervisory collective bargaining in education has grown 67 percent in four years, from 1,100 to 1,838 units. In all, 21 states have laws that allow administrator unionization and bargaining. Seven other states and the District of Columbia have local, voluntary recognition of bargaining units for school supervisors. (Author/IRT)

Reports on a study of 444 randomly selected adults in Wisconsin who were asked to indicate how important it is for students to accomplish each of 18 goals before they graduate. They were also asked to judge how much emphasis the schools should give to each goal. (Author/IRT)

Uses a table to present the subjects that are required by law in each state and the percentage of states requiring each subject. Concludes that local school districts, state departments of education, and a myriad of pressure groups appear to provide a relatively uniform national school system. (Author/IRT)

A review of the research indicates that no other nation has carried such a high percentage of its citizens so far in education. (Author/IRT)

After examining the nature of the "curriculum" of television, the author asks to what extent the biases of television can be balanced by the biases of other information systems, particularly those of the schools. (Author/IRT)

Some of the specific reasons for using or discussing specific kinds of television programs in the classroom do make sense--in specific cases. The trick is to select such programs very carefully, without capitulating to the pressure from the networks, and to keep a firm grip on one's goals. (Author/IRT)

When parents and educators are dismayed by the younger generation's declining skills, future orientation, and interest in success, they should direct their concern to the interplay between "video Valhalla," narcissistic consumerism, and open education in today's enculturative processes. (Author/IRT)

Describes the processes involved when a class of fourth graders makes a film. (IRT)