Findings of a study that examined the application of strategic planning in American school districts are presented in this paper. Methodology involved content analysis of the strategic plans of 79 school districts throughout the United States, focussing on their mission statements, core beliefs and parameter statements, and objectives and…

This examination of the application of the products and processes of science to the field of education argues that education is entrenched in an outdated scientific mode--that of a Newtonian model--and proposes a more contemporary model of relativity which purports that wholes cannot be broken into parts, that variables are not isolatable but…

The central premise underlying gifted education is that gifted students can and should be distinguished or differentiated from the larger, non-gifted population, and once identified, should receive specialized services. This paradigm is strongly rooted in the psychometric tradition and draws upon the "medical model" by defining characteristics or…

This article argues that the standard tenets of the teaching of children also apply to the ways in which programs are implemented: they run on tentativeness, flexibility, and problem-solving. How these qualities reveal themselves in five important areas is discussed in the following sections: (1) standards and guidelines for delivering Reading…

The relationship between collaborative learning and some major theoretical and empirical approaches to fostering critical thinking are examined. Three frameworks for combining collaborative learning and critical thinking are suggested: use of mental models, creation of discourse communities, and creation of disciplinary discourse communities. (MSE)

Humanity delights in spinning conceptual models of the world. These models, in turn, mirror their respective root metaphors. Three root metaphors--spiritual, organic, and mechanical--have dominated western thought. The spiritual metaphor runs from Plato, through Hegel, and connects with Montessori. The organic metaphor extends from Aristotle,…

Peter Kuchinke has written a powerful and relevant article that should generate much discussion in the human resource development (HRD) community. The focus of Kuchinke's paper is the question of whether HRD academic programs should emulate the value preference of business schools or march to a different drum. In this response, the author argues…

This paper presents W. Edwards Deming's 14 management points, 7 deadly diseases, and 4 obstacles that thwart productivity, and discusses how these principles relate to teaching and learning. Application of these principles is expected to increase the quality of learning in classrooms from kindergarten through graduate level. Examples of the…

This digest describes a model curriculum for children from language minority groups, called the "Optimal Learning Environment Curriculum--A Resource for Teachers of Spanish Speaking Children in Learning Handicapped Programs." This bilingual special education class model is governed by the following principles: (1) take into account the…

Violence is rooted in obedience to authority and in comparisons--foundations of our institutions of parenting and schooling. Obedience brings reward and punishment, comparison perpetuates a cycle of competition and conflict. Television violence is especially harmful because children easily understand visual images. The Reality Research approach to…

A developmental model for collaborative learning at the college level, based on the notion of the development of expertise, is outlined. Five stages are described: (1) the learning of rules, techniques, and strategies; (2) applying the techniques and strategies to the particular teaching context; (3) developing competence; (4) becoming proficient;…

This discussion first reviews efficacy studies and models for word finding remediation in children and adolescents, and then offers principles and objectives of a threefold intervention model which addresses word finding remediation, self-advocacy instruction, and compensatory programing. (DB)

This paper focuses on formal strategies for remediation of speech production in children and youth with hearing impairments. A seven-step model of speech acquisition is summarized. General principles for improving student speech at phonetic and phonologic levels and specific strategies to deal with common speech errors are offered. (Author/DB)

Argues that various reforms have been initiated in an attempt to respond to calls for school improvement, and although well-intentioned, most attempts have failed to bring about the substantive change needed in American schools. Discusses first- and second-order change and middle school philosophy. Recounts two stories of change. (SD)

The school is part of the surrounding society and reflects prevailing values and developments in that society. Changes in the pupils, in their living environments and in the community as a whole require sensitivity on the part of the teacher and a readiness to attempt to predict the future from the point of view of the pupils. The professionalism…