In America, education has long been viewed as the main instrument for achieving equality of opportunity. Despite many reform efforts over the past several decades, the US educational system has patently failed to ensure equal access for all to the essential knowledge, skills, problem-solving abilities, and reasoning abilities that are necessary to…

Explores teaching as a cultural activity by focusing on U.S. and Japanese systems of teaching in the context of cultural beliefs about how students learn and the teacher's role in the learning process. Educational improvement could result from greater awareness of the cultural scripts used in teaching. (SLD)

Work inhibition occurs when students have no trouble learning but have difficulty in engaging in the work of school. As many as 20 percent of U.S. public school students may be work inhibited. Reasons for work inhibition and way to combat it are discussed. (SLD)

Observations of one teacher's approach to teaching second grade mathematics reveal a mixture of traditional and innovative techniques. The new teaching policy advocated by the revised California Mathematics Framework is not being implemented. The call for reform in education has increased the teacher's obligation without increasing resources to…

Explores issues of curriculum as a moral educator, examining moral values conveyed by the hidden curriculum. Greater emphasis on moral education and character formation is a rediscovery of curriculum's core intention. Teachers can find their most potent instrument for moral education in the form and substance of the curriculum. (SLD)