Lauds former Secretary of Education William Bennett's 1988 report, "American Education: Making It Work," as a significant contribution-- especially regarding curriculum development recommendations. Criticizes Bennett for blaming teachers' unions for school reform shortcomings. Since failure in the home greatly influences declining student…

Criticizes outgoing Secretary of Education William Bennett for speech-making designed to pull at the public heartstrings while leaving the purse strings intact. Bennett finds a comfortable refuge in Platonic reality and virtue and stirs up deep-seated frustrations with the nation's failings. These problems play well on the evening news but offer…

Reviews articles on educational technology appearing in this "Kappan" issue. Describes a National School Board's Association report calling for strong educational leadership. Mentions a Utah case study and articles discussing school restructuring, combining technologies in the classroom, the value of small changes, the need for teacher…

For the U.S. to survive despite intensifying international competition, accelerating technological change, oppressive public and private debt, and demographic and work force changes, the learning enterprise must become far more productive. Two 1998 scenarios are presented: business-as-usual (favoring the rich) and a restructured system based on…

To implement numerous educational reforms within the constraints of skyrocketing enrollment and limited financial resources, Utah has given technology a key role. Technology has already changed teaching and learning via satellite delivery systems, writing labs, distance learning, instructional television, and other innovations. Policies and…

Claims that multimedia publishing will become an important part of the 1990's classroom and that impersonal technology can create a rich, collaborative learning environment. The author's successful educational media workshops were based on cooperative and self-directed learning, pride of authorship, and a scavenging approach to assembling…

Education is the only "business" in which the consumers (students) rather than the workers (teachers and administrators) do most of the work. For educational technology to fulfill its potential, we must change our views about work in schools. Technology must be used for the workers to improve connections and by the workers to enhance and extend…

While expecting to see microcomputers on the desks of business people, scientists, lawyers, and other professionals, we have failed to allow teachers similar access to these machines. Instead of trying to restructure teaching to fit future technologies, schools should empower teachers and place them at the forefront of future innovation. (MLH)

Inspired by Lewis Perelman's vision, this article summarizes needed transformative changes, such as preparing teachers for new technologies, committing additional human and financial resources, educating the public, establishing a business/education partnership, restructuring the curriculum, obtaining federal assistance, and evaluating what works…

In the 1988 Gallup Poll, 32 percent of interviewees called student drug use the most important problem facing local public schools, with lack of discipline a close second. This article summarizes respondents' attitudes toward AIDS education, latch-key programs, higher taxes, racial integration, year round schooling, reduced class size, home…

From the demise of numerous "New Social Studies" programs initiated 25 years ago have sprung some guidelines for revising curricula and promoting educational change. Some lessons: Avoid too many course offerings, involve teachers in early stages of projects, and design programs to meet major goals. Above all, such programs need to be relevant to…

The Teacher Assessment Project at Stanford University has undertaken a series of "wisdom of practice" studies with 11 experienced high school history teachers. This article describes two teachers who achieve optimal results using contrasting teaching styles and classroom organization systems. Both are thoroughly knowledgeable in history and…

Discusses findings reported in a recent National Assessment of Educational Progress report ("Computer Competence: the First Assessment") focusing on four fundamental concerns: student attitudes toward computer use, failure to integrate computers into subject disciplines, the importance of computer access at home and at school, and performance…

In April 1988, Congress passed, and President Reagan signed, the Hawkins Stafford School Improvement Amendments, restoring the federal government's position as a true helper in educational reform. Besides raising spending ceilings for various educational programs and authorizing numerous initiatives, the law substantially enlarges Chapter 1…

An assignment taken from Robert Marzano's "Tactics for Thinking" sparked a protest movement in two southern Indiana school systems in Spring 1988. Seven Gibson County women viewed the focusing assignment as mind-control and tied Marzano's book to the "brainwashing" New Age movement promulgated by Marilyn Ferguson's book "The Aquarian Conspiracy."…