Discusses current relevance of ideas of pragmatic thinkers and John Dewey. The pragmatic understanding of pluralism displays a sensitivity to difference but also emphasizes reaching out and communicating with what is other and different from ourselves. Without that, pluralism becomes chaos. (PS)

Richard Bernstein's John Dewey lecture is a political cautionary tale intended for the Left. It is the call for and justification of an emancipatory phronesis. The kind of questions Bernstein puts to others in his lecture, to obtain concrete social and political knowledge, must ultimately be put to Bernstein. (PS)

Whether or not multiculturalism has redefined or advanced equality in U.S. education is examined through an analysis of bilingual education, community control, and multicultural education. Certain forms of multicultural education have incorporated new elements into the understanding of equal education, including notions of unbiased curricula and…

Argues that content standards that are aligned with tests are the wrong starting point for systemic school change aimed at improving teaching and learning and that national standards are the wrong vehicle. Policies should attempt to create a system in which community involvement, teacher knowledge, and equalized school capacity are starting points…