It may be that teacher education offers a more valuable index of national development than the school system, for teachers' colleges normally mirror a society's ideological and structural features in detail, and their recruitment often reflects its avenues of opportunity and achievement. (Author)

The demographic analysis of the educational process has been of great assistance to the work of educational planners, who must continually estimate the size of future student enrollments at different levels of the educational structure. (Author)

Considers current discussions of theory and practice in teacher education. Explores the relationship between theory in education and theory in teaching. Suggests that the focus of theory in teacher education should be on pedagogy. Describes methods for implementing an exploratory pedagogy based on the foundation disciplines. Reconceptualizes…

Reports on recent changes in examination policy and practice in China, England and Wales, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Japan, Sweden, the United States, and the Soviet Union. Identifies and discusses some significant trade-offs arising from the implementation of examination policy. Discusses four nearly universal dilemmas of…

Questions the place that the plurality of values and the conflicts between them have in educating children in Eastern and Western Europe. Explores the philosophical aspects of this question, giving a sketch of some ethical conflicts and how they should be handled in education. Urges linking the concepts of "own good" and "others good." (KO)

Discusses how empathy is promoted in the United Kingdom's National Curriculum. Notes that the concept is ambiguous, especially as it is used in the subject of history. Describes how this concept impedes planning, teaching, and assessment. Suggests that understanding how children reason is more productive that making assumptions about how they…

Examines aspects of teamwork in employment and the implications for higher education. Draws a number of conclusions concerning the teaching of students in universities relative to the goal of enabling these graduates to work effectively in teams. Suggest that the goal of making higher education relevant to employment can be beneficial. (KO)

Reports on an evaluation of a nationally funded in-service plan known as TRIST (Technical and Vocational Education Initiative-TVEI-Related In-Service Training) for secondary and postsecondary education teachers in the United Kingdom. Considers the influence of a variety of central government policies upon the educational climate existing in three…

Examines the preeminence of research in higher education. Reviews the modern university's history. Suggests that as most academics desire recognition, funding bodies are besieged by people seeking money for research. Argues that university staff members should be expected to contribute to, and should be evaluated for, teaching, research,…

Examines the claim that the National Curriculum provides educational entitlement to all 5- through 16-year-old students in England and Wales. Argues that the curriculum counters efforts to battle racial inequality. Suggests that Labour Party policies would do little better. Highlights elements of an alternative plan that could help promote…

Examines three U.S. versions of multicultural education: (1) cultural understanding (teaching to promote appreciation of ethnic differences); (2) cultural competence (bilingual education); and (3) cultural emancipation (inclusion of minority culture in the curriculum). Argues that differences among the approaches have implications for race…

Challenges the assertion that education is necessarily political. Suggests that discussion of education often focuses on its trappings, rather than the overall subject. Argues that education neither produces good workers and enterprising citizens nor autonomous, free thinking students who love learning. Concludes that such goals are best achieved…

Identifies four issues that will shape the future of U.S. elementary and secondary education: (1) decentralized governance of schools; (2) education of all students and level of achievement; (3) opportunity for educational equality; and (4) cultural diversity and ethnicity. (CFR)

Reports observations of Germany's teacher education programs by an Irish teacher educator. Describes lessons on curriculum design and planning instruction. Contends that German teachers believe that education should develop self-confident, knowledgeable students who will be active participants in a democratic society. (CFR)