The International Baccalaureate (IB) program, based on a set of exams prepared in Geneva, Switzerland, was originally designed as a standard curriculum by which students from all over the world could meet graduation requirements in their own countries. IB students may receive up to one year's credit in American Colleges. (MLW)

Stating that superficial stereotypes hinder the understanding of people and places, Day presents several well-known over-generalizations about India. Attempts to update readers about recent changes within the country while dispelling some popular myths. Discusses India's large population, poverty, economic growth, women's roles, and culture, along…

Introduces the concept of state-forbidden research terrains and examines one such terrain in detail: post-revolutionary Cuba. Examines how U.S. decision makers create and maintain forbidden research terrain and explores the consequences of Cuba's closure to social science investigation. Suggests actions that social scientists might take to open up…

Argues that comparative and international research in the United States reflects the interests of the United States government. Claims such an ideological position defines the field's theoretical and methodological parameters. Cultural studies offer a perspective on this bias and offer a comprehensive, contextualized approach to the study of…

Appraises the legality, under international law, of the U.S. intervention in Nicaragua. Describes the concepts of intervention, international resolutions, and declarations on the subject. Points out that international law is violated by many nations. Concludes that U.S. intervention in Nicaragua is impermissible under international law and unwise…

Examines the general concept of intervention and analyzes specific types of U.S. intervention from a geopolitical perspective. Considers the variables relating to the geography of intervention such as land mass, terrain, population, level of development, political stability, cultural heritage, sphere of influence, expansion, and acquisition of…

An overview to a session at the Fifth International Congress on Mathematical Education is given. Papers on research by Cooney, curriculum development by Goffree, reform in mathematics education by Stephens, and a summary by Nickson are included. (MNS)

Suggests six activities for teaching United Kingdom students about the United States and vice versa. Ideas include word associations, map and globe work to discover climate and habitation patterns, exchange of student projects, and relevant textbook passages. (JDH)

The divergence of international studies and general education was not inevitable but was a conscious choice on the part of each. The circumstances are different today, and the two can now forge a mutually beneficial alliance. (MSE)

This paper considers the relation of education and of scientific and technical knowledge developed through research and development to labor productivity growth within the medium term. The empirical significance of sources of productivity growth is tested using data for the United States and 14 other nations. (Author/MLF)

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) contains no direct measures of student ability and motivation. Researchers created a new variable, Student Task Persistence (STP), that is an index of student engagement in providing answers to TIMSS questions on the background questionnaire. The purpose of this research was to…

This special issue attempts to provide a summary of what scholars and educators have recommended that U.S. K-12 students study in the international dimension of education. These guidelines are not "standards" as the term is currently used by academic disciplines, but they can be used to validate local curriculum decisions and to assure that the…

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provides an opportunity to look at how students approach learning as well as how they perform in certain areas. This study analyzed PISA results, focusing on aspects of student motivation, self-belief, and use of various…

Using the international database of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), this study estimated the effect of class size on student performance in 18 countries, combining school fixed effects and instrumental variables to identify random class-size variation between 2 adjacent grades within individual schools. Conventional…

A revised version of testimony in favor of support for foreign language education at all levels. The need for Americans to become more proficient in foreign languages in view of economic, social, and political interdependence; the advantage of an early start; and support for advanced foreign language study are discussed. (AMH)