Beginning with an historical review of public school role in the mediation of social and ethnocultural class conflicts, political problems for curriculum policy makers are discussed. These problems are created by the simultaneous needs for the curriculum to maintain and change society. (CP)

This article traces the development of the concept and roles of literacy in Western civilization. Current concern about declining literacy in American students is discussed historically in terms of (1) rising literacy standards; (2) applying the standards and tastes of traditional elites to the larger population; and (3) the perennial…

Four aspects of the study of mnemonic devices are discussed: (1) justification for research; (2) classification of common mnemonic devices; (3) description of properties of effective cognitive cuing structures; and (4) discussion of methodological problems in past research. Also included is a description of the recent history of research on…

Recent research on visual imagery mnemonic techniques is compared to research in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Results of recent research are discussed in terms of practical implications for education. (Author/MH)