In order to gain a perspective on how civil servants may influence the present movement toward a national curriculum, Proctor examines how civil servants influenced the shaping of the curriculum during the early 1900s by examining the fate of one school subject--geography. Depicts the ways decisions were made and the attitudes and prejudices of…

Reports a survey of British secondary school teachers to determine the types and frequency of troublesome classroom behaviors. Finding that "talking out of turn" and "hindering other children" were the most problematic behaviors, the authors examined variables such as the sex of the teacher, age group taught, and subject…

Explores the development of teacher research on gender. Suggests that teacher research has proved important for feminist teachers by affording them the opportunity to explore the social as well as the educational context of schooling and by providing them with the means to challenge inequalities from inside the profession. (KO)

Examines the effects of facial expression and posture of teachers on the reactions of schoolchildren. Finds that smiling and frowning have strong effects while the effects of posture and gesture are weaker. Reports that touch and explaining gestures are seen as positive by the students and controlling gestures are viewed as negative. (KO)

Describes a pattern of failure to apply relevant scientific principles among pupils. Tenth grade Israeli students were tested and later interviewed in order to determine areas of knowledge in which there was some question concerning knowledge of scientific principles. Suggests that teachers must involve the pupils in situations in which erroneous…

Considers the reaction to anti-racist change among white British secondary school students. Efforts to include the students in this process have included the conceptualization of white ethnicity. Discusses the development of this concept and efforts to keep it free of racist and nationalist sentiments. (MJP)

Describes a method for assessing schools' performance in relation to socioeconomic indicators of their location. Such indicators include, the percentage of owner-occupied houses, car ownership, unemployment, and overcrowding. Discusses the process of indexing these indicators and their relation to school performance. (MJP)

Examines the possible roles and contributions of postmodernist thought to educational research. Models some of these approaches in its consideration of interviews collected during a project reviewing the careers of educational researchers. Provides a number of verbatim transcripts from the interviews and discusses their various narrative and…

Provides an overview of the current practices and controversies concerning educational research in the United Kingdom. Addresses issues including lack of adequate evidence and the hindering effects of fragmentation and isolation. Offers suggestions for improving professionalism and discusses the efforts of the British Educational Research…

Addresses some of the recent criticism aimed at educational research, its failure to provide a sound base for teaching or to generate a cumulative body of knowledge. Answers that there is always a dichotomy between research and application and argues that restrictions would only worsen the situation. (MJP)

Reports on a study where 111 primary age children were asked to map four model landscapes of increasing complexity. The results show an age-related progression from representing hills in elevation only to early experiments with the use of contours. Includes maps, graphs, and statistical data. (MJP)

Explores what focus groups are, how they have been utilized by researchers, and some of the practical and theoretical implications for incorporating focus groups in the design of educational research. Includes verbatim transcripts from interviews and specific examples of various focus groups. (MJP)

Reports on a study of four secondary schools seeking to develop an inclusive approach. Identifies some common themes across the four institutions, such as the nature of resistance and the resilience of special education. Considers the theoretical explanations, and their implications, on the notion of inclusion. (CMK)

Examines the educational progress made by students between Baseline assessment at age 4 and national end of Key Stage 1 tests at age 7. Focuses on the effects background factors have on students' progress, the interactions between ethnic group, sex, and economic disadvantage on progress, and evidence of school effectiveness. Discusses the…

Describes (1) a statistical study of secondary teachers' conceptions of and beliefs about mathematics and its teaching and (2) the relationships between them. Reports that five factors were identified representing a conception of mathematics as an area of human activity, while five conceptions of mathematics teaching were also identified.…