One of the more long-standing and commonly held views among educational theorists maintains that schools are one of the primary sites of social and cultural reproduction--sites where students are corralled and organized for the reproduction of the existing social arrangement. In this article author Gregory Bourassa argues that if this…

Background: In educational policies, two discourses on gender have existed since the 1980s. I call them the "gender equality discourse" and the "boy discourse". The gender equality discourse in education is based on international and national declarations and plans, and is focused predominantly on the position of girls and…

From past knowledge of Ziegler's and Phillipson's work, the author knew before reading the manuscript that there would be significant conceptual disagreements. Yet, he was hoping to find enough points of convergence that they could lead to enriching exchanges and, maybe, future shared efforts at bridging gaps between their respective views.…

This article presents an interview with Allan Wigfield, professor and chair of the Department of Human Development and distinguished scholar-teacher at the University of Maryland. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on children's motivation and other topics. He is a fellow of Division 15 (Educational…

For the last 11 years, Angela Lee Duckworth of the University of Pennsylvania has been conducting ground breaking studies on "grit"--the quality that enables individuals to work hard and stick to their long-term passions and goals. In this interview with "Educational Leadership," Duckworth describes what her research has shown…

Lynn (2010a, 2010b) argued that individuals from south Italy have a lower IQ than individuals from north Italy, and that these differences in IQ are at the basis of north-south gap in income, education, infant mortality, stature, and literacy. In the present paper, we discuss several theoretical and methodological aspects which we regard as flaws…

Not so long ago the occasional story would be told in the news that someone with a fascination for all things medical had spent months or even years masquerading as a doctor in a large and anonymous hospital. No doubt the absence of such stories today is due to heightened security and vigilance, partly as a result of the realization among hospital…

With the recent emphasis on evaluating teachers' effectiveness by the performance of their students, it should be no surprise that this subject has reached the physical education (PE) sector. This commentary examines 3 articles by Rink (2013), McKenzie and Lounsbery (2013), and Ward (2013), who each take a different perspective on measuring…

In this commentary, the author talks about her two articles in "Psychology of Women Quarterly" (PWQ): (1) the 1987 article entitled "Gender Roles and Women's Achievement-Related Decisions"; and (2) the 1994 article entitled "Understanding Women's Educational and Occupational Choices." The original articles can be found at…

The American educational system is no fairy tale. Students who think that it takes nothing more than a wish upon a star to make their educational dreams come true are sure to be disappointed. The authors agree with Professor Rosenbaum: In order to realize their educational dreams, students must invest considerable effort. Rather than encouraging…

In their article "Innovations in Setting Performance Standards for K-12 Test-Based Accountability," Kristen Huff and Barbara S. Plake (2010) lay out three preconditions for continued investment in standard-setting methodology and practice, all focused on the sound development and use of achievement level descriptors (ALDs). Among these…

In their paper, Black and Wiliam said: "The way that processes of aggregation are carried out have profound implications for the extent to which summary judgments about individuals or institutions can be "reverse engineered" to provide information about the meanings of those judgments." The author of this article could not…

The author of this article believes that Ericsson and his associates continue to produce impressive research on talent and exceptional performances. He agrees that the objective of their featured article--"a general theoretical framework that establishes scientific criteria for acceptable evidence of superior reproducible performance, which any…

For over two decades the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement has administered achievement tests internationally. Results of past and future tests can not only indicate where U.S. students rank in achievement, but also broaden curriculum makers' visions of what is desirable for students. (Author/JM)

The status, function, and education of engineers in Britain and West Germany are compared. Status of the German engineer, engineering education in Germany, the engineer and German society, and the overachieving engineer are discussed. (Author/MLW)