Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between parents' involvement related to their alertness of what happens in school and their identification with school and their children's attitudes toward school, social adjustment, self-efficacy and academic achievements. Design/methodology/approach: Questionnaires were answered…

Six out of ten Americans now say that colleges today operate more like a business, focused more on the bottom line than on the educational experience of students. Further, the number of people who feel this way has increased by five percentage points in the last year alone and is up by eight percentage points since 2007. These are highlights from…

The default policy in almost all schools is to assign homework on a regular basis. Alfie Kohn argues that this would make sense only if the homework is beneficial--which it usually is not. He proposes that we re-evaluate the quantity and quality of such assignments and help teachers to rethink the tendency to give homework even when it seems…

"Policy Perspectives" presents visiting authors' own views and/or research on issues relevant to schools and communities nationwide. The idea that reading skill is largely a set of general-purpose maneuvers that can be applied to any and all texts is one of the main barriers to our children's overall low achievement in reading, argues…

Three possible motivators for college teachers (individual economic interest, academic virtue, and academic honor) suggest mechanisms that can be used to improve performance. Policies need to address all three motivators; economic levers alone may undermine alternative ways of supporting good work. (MSE)

Suggests ways that community services/continuing education programs can maintain their visibility, integrity, currentness, and flexibility. Sees proper marketing both within and without the institution as important means of ensuring the continued expansion of credibility. (DMM)

South Carolina's Education Improvement Act of 1984 is motivating, innovative, challenging, and satisfying. The law is motivating to the citizens of South Carolina because it promises increased student academic achievement, better services to special groups of students and school personnel, improved school conditions, extensive community…

A discussion of lifelong learning begins by distinguishing it from other concepts and practices with which it is frequently associated, then examines its status in Australian higher education. It is concluded that, although the rhetoric exceeds reality, and despite dominant instrumentalism, many factors contribute to lifelong learning in…

The attitudes of 100 Alabama legislators toward higher education and about major issues facing higher education in the State were investigated. Surveys were returned by 79 house members (75 percent) and 21 senate members (60 percent). Attention was focused on legislators' views of the mission of higher education, how higher education should be…

Describes a pilot study conducted by the special Phi Delta Kappa commission to determine why people gained or lost confidence in education and schools. Results indicate attitudes are major factors influencing confidence in public schools. Suggests working on attitude improvement and developing programs and efforts based on periodic needs-sensing…

College science education is at risk of becoming mired in the "reform culture" that has long been problematic in precollege science. A single universal solution to student underpreparedness and lack of sustained interest cannot be found, but a departmental level commitment to change and reallocation of resources is necessary to achieve program…

Purpose: A 34-item Likert-type survey instrument, The Reflective, Ethical, and Moral Assessment Survey (REMAS), measuring perceptions of use of reflective, ethical and moral dispositions and leadership practices was developed. Items, component factors, and results of the self-assessment of graduates from an educational leadership preparation…

Foreign language teachers need to provide students and administrators with a more accurate understanding of the nature and value of language programs if the programs are to successfully compete for enrollment. A survey of principals in Minnesota provided data reinforcing these views. (PGD)

A study examined issues of teacher professionalization within adult literacy education. Relevant research and theory on professionalization were reviewed, the historical experiences of other professional fields were examined, data on state certification requirements for adult basic education (ABE) teachers were analyzed, officials from states…

A guidebook for the individual or group of persons on a college campus responsible for implementation of institutional effectiveness or outcomes assessment activities is presented in seven chapters. Chapter 1 explains the handbook's use in institutional effectiveness and outcomes assessment implementation, and Chapter 2 gives an overview of the…