In this article, Philip DiSalvio, dean of the College of Advancing and Professional Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston, interviews Stephen Trachtenberg, president emeritus and University Professor of Public Service at George Washington University. Trachtenberg shares his views on the traditional four-year undergraduate degree, the…

Arguments for doing away with undergraduate teacher education are highlighted, followed by an explanation of the shortcomings of Masters of Arts in teaching programs. Basic questions must be answered, it is argued, before tampering with the structure of teacher education. (MT)

Important issues related to the improvement of teacher education are discussed. Internal characteristics of current programs should be considered before reaching the conclusion that extended programs are necessary. (MT)

A case is made for maintaining teacher education at the undergraduate level. This paper outlines the core arguments used by contemporary proponents of extended teacher preparation programs, and identifies which of these arguments are recurrent themes from earlier rationales. The validity of the arguments is also assessed. Some of the hidden costs…

Alternative scheduling provides community colleges with a means to adapt to declining enrollments and fiscal exigencies, and to respond the demand for accountability to students. Strategies such as departing from traditional semester- or quarter-length courses and developing weekend programs have been implemented at certain institutions to…

The dimension of time in adult education needs to be reconceived. The elements of duration, pace, and articulation should be less rigid to achieve a better fit with adult life cycles. (SK)

Arguments for and against extension of dental education to a mandatory five years because of current overcrowding of dental curriculum are presented in debate form. Affirmative arguments center on the inefficacy of restructuring existing curricula, and arguments against focus on current curricular inefficiency, costs, and other practical…

A three-year bachelor's degree curriculum is recommended for motivated and well-prepared college students, for some majors. Advantages foreseen include savings in time and money, an improved college atmosphere, higher persistence rates, and less need for departments to lower standards and resort to mass marketing efforts. (MSE)

Expansion of higher education in Britain is driven by political expediency, resulting in imbalance between initial and recurrent education. To reach the goal of a learning society, there must be a better distribution between working time and education and recognition of learning as a social activity, not merely a human capital investment. (SK)

A proposal is made to reduce the traditional three-year law program to two calendar years, providing both educational and financial advantages: student stimulation; earlier employment, more intensive teaching but more free faculty time, and more continuous use of facilities. (Journal availibility: ABA, 77 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606.) (MSE)

The restructuring of teacher education programs must involve a collaboration between members of college faculties involved in producing educational knowledge and those who use the knowledge to train teachers. The restructuring also involves: (1) extending the teacher training period to a minimum of five years; (2) better integration of the…

The current circumstances in the teacher education profession provide the appropriate environment for much needed, effective change in the field. Serious and thoughtful exploration should be made of the length of teacher education programs, with 4- and 5-year programs evaluated and/or developed to provide substantive professional content for…

The cost of extending teacher education to include a fifth year would be six billion dollars annually, and there is no evidence that extended programs produce more effective teachers. (Author/MSE)

This contribution to "The Visible College" column considers the question of expanding the Master's in Library Science (MLS) program to better prepare students for future participation in the library profession. Benefits include exposure to core curriculum, opportunities for specialization, forming alliances with and taking classes in…

After reviewing articles that discuss educational approaches for young children with autism, this article concludes that engagement is a critical feature, it is not clear that one approach is more effective than another, applied behavior analysis is a common foundation, and approaches may benefit from a more complete consideration of the family…