Discusses three assumptions that can help achieve the goals of international studies in the elementary school. The author shows how intercultural development can be added to Kohlberg's and Piaget's stages. A unit on the Japanese house illustrates how the study of another culture can integrate social studies and mathematical skills. (SR)

Explains the importance of competence in standard American English in a developmental writing curriculum and reviews several theories of basic writing instruction. (EL)

When designing competency based education programs to meet state requirements, California educators would do well to select only a small number of highly significant competencies per basic skill area, for which they can devise on-target instruction and valid competency measures. (SJL)

Noting that it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what back to basics advocates really mean by "basics," this paper suggests three interpretations: one dealing with skills, one with subject matter, and one with values. The first section of the paper places each of these interpretations in historical perspective, demonstrates how each…

Describes a framework for teaching British National Curriculum subjects to pupils with profound learning difficulties. Discussion focuses on curriculum adaptations, educational rationale for subject selection, insights from subject specialists, and integration of therapies, health care, and emotional support within education. (DB)

Uses complaints leveled against English teachers in l912 to support three points about the crisis in literacy: (1) the "writing crisis" is not new, (2) teaching basics will not solve crisis, and (3) solution to problem should be based on what is known about history and theory of composition instruction and about successful and unsuccessful methods…

The competencies of the nation's workers have been improving steadily. However, the improvements have not kept pace with the increased skill demands imposed by technological advancement and the shift toward a service-based economy. Academic and functional literacy problems can only be alleviated by balancing school improvement efforts with…

This publication is a compilation of papers presented at the "Presidents' Conference on Excellence in Illinois Education." These conference proceedings outline the complex and difficult nature of the educational problems facing the state of Illinois and the nation as a whole. These papers, by presidents of universities in Illinois,…