This exploration of contemporary beliefs about truancy looks historically at the relationship between views about the normality, as well as the deviance, of particular patterns of schooling, and argues that truanting needs to be understood, in social terms, as being out of place. The argument is developed through a discussion of state policies on…

An outgrowth of earlier research on historical and contemporary adult education in Greece, this paper provides highlights of the relationship between the state and adult education in that country. The highlights are organized by the following historical periods: prehistory (c. 3000-1100 B.C.); early and archaic Greece (c. 1100-700 B.C.);…

Sociologist Willard Waller, writing more than 50 years ago, framed many of the key ideas found in contemporary literature on school organization. This paper is both an appreciation and criticism of Waller's seminal case studies of social interaction in schools. The paper is divided into four sections. The first two explore Waller's thought and its…

English language sociological research on higher education in Canada from 1970-1980 is reviewed. Functionalists have tended to concentrate upon the task of describing the perceived functions of the educational system in the society and have usually considered major educational change as occurring in response to the requirements of the polity and…

Drawing on the social science disciplines, this bibliography presents a selected, annotated list of books, articles, dissertations, government reports, and international agency publications dealing with postsecondary education systems in Western Europe and North America. Its objectives are to provide a comparative guide to important developments…

The study examined selected perceptions and attitudes of randomly identified members of the American Vocational Association (AVA) regarding some of the goals and objectives of this organization. The sample was assessed to determine the relationships among isolated variables (collective bargaining, State legislation, Federal legislation,…

During the 60's, systems for the observation of classroom behavior have become an important area of educational research. Many new systems have been devised both for the evaluation of teaching techniques and for basic research into teaching processes. In the development of such systems the investigator must determine what behaviors are to be…

This paper focuses on a comparative analysis of the normative and empirical elements of four approaches to political education. The analysis is conducted by identifying the central assumptions, value commitments and the empirical theoretical structure of each approach and by making comparisons across alternatives. The findings of the analysis…

In order for any curriculum dealing with the home and family to be successful in the classroom, it is necessary for teachers to accommodate themselves to the requirements of various cultural, ethnic, and religious groups and to become aware of the differences in traditions and situations within all groups. In light of this philosophy, the…

This book discusses schools--the effects of curriculum change and the reasons why some children are successful in school and others are not. Its purpose is to present evidence of the contribution of contemporary research in the sociology of education to the understanding of education and of society. The collection of research studies represents…

Reports on a sociological research project that explored how a new generation of teachers in Greece, Spain, Portugal, England, and Wales understood the concept of citizenship and how gender relates to it. The data suggests that specific gender and cultural groups may posses their own notions of citizenship. (MJP)

Analyzes the decision making process used by Japanese middle school students and their parents for choosing a high school. Reveals that these decisions are highly affected by placement counseling. This process defines the students' choices, inculcates values, and offers sets of rationales for students to account for their decisions. (MJP)

Reviews the evidence on how the concept of opportunities to learn can be applied to the demand for more challenging content for all students. Concludes that students learn more if they are offered more demanding curricula. However, such curricula creates the probability of unacceptable rates of failure. (MJP)

An action research project emphasized the centrality of teachers' values in teaching decisions. After identifying grading papers as a source of tension, a teacher opened decisions about grading to democratic decision making, resulting in more positive professor-student relationships, more emphasis on learning, and improved student evaluations of…

Asserts that the United States and Japan exist in a symbiotic partnership and that sociology courses provide an excellent opportunity to teach about multicultural issues. Describes a college-level course on the sociology of Japan. Discusses teaching methods, instructional materials, and the potential for team-teaching. (CFR)