The old saying, that a single spark can start a prairie fire, appears in many forms and in different cultures carrying a range of shifting implications and meanings. In this article, William Ayers writes that in some instances, prairie fires are not always catastrophic. They are naturally occurring events necessary and renewing; removing the thick…

This article discusses Dewey's concept of progressive education and proposes the experientialist assumptions which characterize progressive education as a guide in the movement toward teacher professionalism. The knowledge base for teaching is briefly outlined, teacher professionalism is defined, and the relationship of teacher professionalism to…

In an essay-review of "Lucy Sprague Mitchell: The Making of a Modern Woman," four themes which are important to teachers today are discussed. These themes (teacher as educator, as autobiographer, as citizen, and as researcher) are discussed in their biographical, historical, and current contexts. (JL)

This article describes preservice teachers' trips to explore progressive public schools (past and present), emphasizing one to Central Park East School in Spanish Harlem. The schools have strong leadership, high expectations, and a commitment to a child-centered approach in common. Future teachers gain perspective and insight from such visits. (SM)