Eminent historian David Labaree describes a gradual shift, over the last two centuries, in Americans' beliefs and attitudes about the goals of public education. At its founding, our school system was designed mainly to serve the public good, conceived at the time as an effort to create a unified citizenry. By the early 20th century, the schools…

Since the beginning of U.S. public school systems, educators and policy makers have debated what kinds of knowledge and skills that all schoolchildren should acquire. And those debates touch every aspect of a curriculum, its assessment, and its instructional materials. David A. Gamson, Sarah Anne Eckert, and Jeremy Anderson trace the history of…

Juxtaposes a series of quotations from Hitler's "Mein Kampf" on such educational topics as the study of history as politics, the learning of history, and multilingualism. (JBM)

Taking as his starting point the 1918 publication on "Cardinal Principles of Secondary Education: A Report of the Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education," the author provides his updated seven cardinal principles. (IRT)

Outlines Dewey's views on the proper objectives of vocational education, suggests that these objectives deserve serious reconsideration today, and outlines warning signs that indicate when a vocational program is falling short of genuine education. (Author/IRT)

Quality education occurs by improving the instructional and administrative means used to achieve intelligent ends. The experiences of Superintendent Parker in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1873, emphasize the need to seek understanding and meaning, to see education whole, to value teachers, and to view superintendents as thoughtful educators, not…

This essay criticizes as myths (1) a view of students as receptacles for information, (2) the assumption that new knowledge can be poured into an inelastic school year, and (3) the assurance that students are magically ready for work or college at 18. Instead, student motivation is offered as the key to reform. (MJL)

Education in the United States has expanded over the years in the pursuit of two goals: individual growth and societal development. Pursuing these goals simultaneously creates problems in setting educational standards, identifying objectives, and integrating students from varied backgrounds, but continued efforts to reach both goals must be made.…

Warns against haphazard "decrementalism" as a result of retrenchment. Suggest three different stages of development in U.S. public education. Argues that a community of commitment is possible if educational leaders reformulate the purposes of public education in a tough-minded and coherent way. (Author/WD)

Discusses the nature of political education in European schools, noting the influences of history, concepts of participatory learning, and the presence of pluralistic educational systems featuring both secular and religious schools. Countries discussed are Belgium, Italy, Greece, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, and France. (PGD)

Secretary of Education from 1988-90 under the Reagan and Bush Administrations describes efforts to establish national education performance goals and improve the academic performance of Hispanic Americans. Also discusses accountability, narrowing the achievement gap, balancing academic achievement with character education, and teacher education.…

Presents four versions of American educational history highlighting centralization/decentralization issues, American faith in schooling, and cascading national and international changes requiring extraordinary reforms. These diverse stories all arrive at the same conclusion--a need for national goals and performance standards to guide…