Few areas of education have expanded as rapidly as preschool education in Europe during the 1970s. Questions have arisen, however, about whether such education should be publicly or privately funded. Britain and the Netherlands provide examples of the importance of involving parents in preschool education. (PB)

This program at New York School for the Deaf serves students of average intelligence and slow reading ability between ages 15 and 21. The program gives students both the expertise available in a school for the handicapped and a practical education combined with a mainstreamed vocational setting and appropriate career guidance. (PB)

Forty-two chief school officers from state departments of education provided information for this study. A table shows the kinds of activities in use in each state, including student codes, community training, surveys of school staff and students, task force reports, and legislation requiring monitoring of violence and vandalism. (PB)

Reviews history of educational patterns in relation to order in the classroom. Although the high schools of the 1940s were disciplined and ordered, this did not result in educational excellence. (MD)

A review of the Department of Education's Secondary Schools Recognition Program shows that exemplary secondary schools often have formed collaborative links with their communities. The five ways schools do this are: recruiting volunteers, aggressive public relations, attracting financial resources, school members volunteering in the community, and…

The likely consequences of different educational policies affecting teacher supply and demand are examined in relation to the predicted teacher shortage. Includes a table describing 23 policies and practices of schools that attract qualified teachers. (MD)

The licensing of teachers should be modeled against professions similar to teaching rather than professions like medicine and architecture that are vastly different. Applying similar licensing practices can raise the status of teaching. Ignoring these licensing practices will prevent teachers from functioning as professionals. (MD)

Proposes a controversial method of dealing with teacher shortages: leave the classrooms vacant rather than using less qualified teacher substitutes. If the public were confronted with the problem of attracting high-quality teachers, citizens would pressure boards and legislatures to find long-term solutions for developing quality teachers. (MD)

Educational reform could be stunted if questionable staffing practices (emergency certificates, misassignment of teachers, and alternative routes to certification) continue and become more prevalent due to the predicted teacher shortages. Outlines the National Education Association's six-point program and the American Federation of Teacher's…

Proposes a radical change in teacher preparation that abolishes college and university departments of education and requires prospective teachers to demonstrate adequate preparation based on the courses they take and on their scores on examinations. (MD)

Discusses the ramifications of privatization (the withdrawal of government as the creator and provider of services) for public education. Includes discussion of vouchers and of privatization of instructional services through the contracting of instructional services from private organizations. (MD)

Critiques the concept of privatization in public education. Contracting for instructional services with providers who must make a profit does not guarantee instructional success or financial savings. (MD)

Reviews basic principles of effective instructional design, then evaluates instructional computer programs in relation to how well the characteristics critical for effective self-instruction are incorporated into educational software. Includes a checklist for use in evaluating the design of educational software. (MD)

Presents research comparing the cost-effectiveness of four educational interventions (computer-assisted instruction, cross-age tutoring, reduced class size, and longer school day) designed to raise elementary student achievement. Results show that computer-assisted instruction was less cost effective than peer tutoring. Includes three tables…

Critiques the Henry Levin and Gail Meister article on cost effectiveness, pointing out that differences in computing the costs of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) yield different results. Also describes problems with other data in the study. Includes two tables. (MD)