Four leading educators respond to 10 questions about the redesign of standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education that will alter that organization and thus affect teacher preparation and practice. (IW)

Predicts that reformers will not attack sex education as an inappropriate addition to otherwise rigorous academic programs. Examines (1) some of the political, social, and practical reasons behind this avoidance and (2) the ineffectiveness of existing programs in preventing teenage pregnancies. Suggests that sex education programs may even hinder…

Presents a humorous, fictional account of a scientist's secret addiction to a forbidden psychological stimulant: literature. Suggests that the polarization of the teaching of science and of literature has reached alarming and unhealthy proportions. (IW)

Reports on the results of several major studies of high school dropouts. Topics addressed are who drops out and why; school-related causes; and prevention policies and programs. Stresses the urgency of addressing the nationwide dropout problem and recommends courses of action. Appended are 19 references. (IW)

Describes two recent court cases that demonstrate the difficulty of balancing the emphasis on drug detection with the privacy rights of students. Concludes that school officials should not be quick to assume that reasonable suspicion exists. (IW)

Describes the Community Service Internship program at East Lyme (Connecticut) High School. The program is designed to help students understand the needs of various segments of the local population while allowing them to engage in community service for a substantial period. (IW)

Reviews precedents, at the state level, to the movement for education reform. Reports, by year and state, on first reactions to reform. Outlines topics touched by state reform efforts, summarizes unifying themes, and predicts the future of reform. Includes a table of states requiring testing for initial certification of teachers. (IW)

The Motilal Nehru School of Sports in India has a three-fold mission: (a) students will be dedicated to improving Indian society and societies throughout the world; (b) students will be prepared for Indian and foreign universities; and (c) students will develop their bodies and represent India in international athletic competitions. (MD)

Four decades of French experience with government funding of private schools is used to illustrate five possible effects if public aid is extended to private schools in the United States. One consequence is the possible affect on the balance between religion, politics, and social structure, a policy change that could profoundly impact United…

An American educator evaluates education experts' current infatuation with the Japanese educational system. She cautions against importing Japan's educational methods to the United States and urges educators to look at the cultural values that produce both systems. She provides thoughtful anecdotes from her experiences visiting Japanese schools to…

Critiques American educational experts' infatuation with the Japanese educational system. Outlines Japan's 1986 national council on education reform report that characterizes the Japanese school system as "an educational wasteland" urging that Japan's schools develop "decentralization" and "diverse identities," and that they "exercise independent…

The Harambee schools make up 75 percent of all secondary schools in Kenya, but only 7 percent of students enrolled in the University of Nairobi have attended these schools. Describes a typical Harambee school in Uvumbi and discusses serious problems schools are experiencing throughout Kenya, despite correct recognition that education is major…

Describes components of "Seventh Five-Year Plan" for China that identify the importance of educational development. In 1985 the Ministry of Education was replaced by the National Education Commission, emphasizing the new prominence of education. The centralized structure of the education system is being dismantled, and concerns over the resulting…

Outlines high school dropout programs developed through public/private partnerships that are successfully helping dropouts and at-risk students develop their potential. Also describes the educational system that corporate businesses have developed to educate employees in an effort to make up for deficiencies resulting from their education in the…

Summer teacher internships that are employer-sponsored benefit the teachers, the employers, and the students. Most of the programs have concentrated on improving science and mathematics teaching. Educating employers and school districts about the benefits of participating in these programs is a complex and difficult task. (MD)