The No Child Left Behind Act, rather than preparing all students for the future, reverts to the outmoded practices of the industrial age--a narrow curriculum and the sorting of students through standardized testing. (Author/MLF)

The new technology coordinator at a Chicago elementary school in a low-income Latino community created a computer course for parents and a neighborhood computer club. The course and club created a means for collaboration between the school and community and for parent involvement in their children's education. (MLF)

A teacher shares the memories of and the lessons learned from a group of students he taught for 3 years more than 25 years ago. From transcripts of the students' comments at the reunion, five factors emerged as critical to teaching and learning: enthusiasm, engagement, equality, expectations, and encouragement. (Author/MLF)

World events, increasing diversity in the classroom, and headlines about the latest court cases all ensure that religion will remain a sensitive and sometimes contentious issue in the public schools. Challenges readers to think about how they would respond to 12 hypothetical classroom situations involving religion. (Author/MLF)

A teacher integrates character education into content lessons by lacing a "character cocktail" with community, manners, and ethical decision-making. (MLF)

A retired elementary school principal, who first visited Cuba as an exchange student, returns 46 years later as an international consultant and finds that the Cubans have made health care and education the top priorities of their society with strong principals and a solid system of supervision and evaluation. (Author/MLF)

Highlights from two new studies about teachers here and abroad: "Teaching Mathematics in Seven Countries: Results from the TIMSS 1999 Video Study" and "Preparing Teachers Around the World." (MLF)

A court case involving a student classified as a child with a disability and her battle to be named valedictorian of her graduating class. Questions the district's determination that this gifted student needed special education and the grade inflation indicated by undue competition for the extra thousandth of a point GPA. (Contains 11 references.)…

Argues that notwithstanding recent survey findings to the contrary, knowledge of history among today's elementary and secondary school students is no less---and probably more--than that of previous generations. Compares results of earlier history surveys to support argument. (Contains 28 references.)(PKP)

Argues that teachers must break the pervasive communities of silence about race in primary school classrooms and thus become moral communities. Includes list of books teachers can read aloud with children to stimulate classroom discussions of race. Also includes selected list of references for teachers. (PKP)

Two-year, quantitative/qualitative study of white students' perspectives on race in multiracial schools finds increased awareness of race and racial identity compared with students in homogeneous schools. But also finds that white students in multiracial schools have few positive forums to explore their racial identities. Draws three implications…

Argues that for schools to reach the No Child Left Behind Act requirement that all children reach proficiency in reading and mathematics by 2014, a major effort must be made to develop and implement high-quality compensatory prekindergarten programs. The major features of these programs include sufficient time, precise targeting, thoughtful focus,…

Explores disconnect between learner-centered teaching practices taught in Texas university teacher education courses and the teaching methods used by the teachers responsible for mentoring student teachers. Offers short- and long-term solutions for bridging the gap between theory and practice. (Contains 12 references.) (PKP)

Argues that state accountability systems that require students to pass high-stakes tests or face retention, mandatory remediation, or denial of diploma fail to provide students with adequate opportunities to learn. Provides hypothetical examples of flawed logic of test-driven student learning opportunities. Discusses test-taking problems for…

Provides a set of seven practical guidelines for determining whether a new educational program will work in a particular school or school district. For example, the program has been carefully investigated to make certain it fits the needs and culture of the school. (PKP)