This paper analyzes the history, current practice, and dangers associated with Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). With roots in American progressive education and particularly in the movements for Outcome-Based Education and Self-Esteem, SEL is now pushed onto state and local education systems by the federal government and even international…

The current state-dominated standards movement originated in the 1983 "Nation at Risk" report. Five different types of standards are usually considered when developing a standards-based school reform system: district, content, student performance, school delivery, and system delivery. Arguments for standards outweigh those against.…

Goals 2000, the Educate America Act, establishes a new role for the federal government in education by defining national education goals and by creating a voluntary system whereby states can receive funds in return for participation in national education reform. Summarizes the major provisions of Goals 2000, paying particular attention to…

Goals 2000 is the offspring of "A Nation at Risk," a 1983 teacher- and school-bashing report. IBM CEO Louis Gerstner named the problem and defined the solution, claiming the need for choice, competition, and technology, recasting students as human capital, and marketizing the teacher/community relationship. Tables summarize critics'…

Proceedings of a 1993 colloquium on the training of elementary school language teachers include a number of presentations and summaries of discussion. Papers include: "Framework for Discussion" (Carol Ann Pesola); "What Are the Current Trends in U.S. Teacher Preparation?" (Janet Towslee); "Why Foreign Language Standards?:…