Some reflections are made on the historical context of instructional theory, and comments are presented on some papers from a session of the American Educational Research Association's 1998 annual meeting. A number of current innovations in instructional theory can actually be found among topics that have been discussed at various times in the…

Reviews seven new books that make a strong case for moral education, offering insights into problems facing today's young people and suggesting strategies for improving the moral climate in schools. (MLF)

The organizing motif of "Out of Our Minds" is the refusal of schools to claim an intellectual mission. Schools have developed an instrumental central purpose, rather than an intellectual one; they aim to turn out patriotic job holders. Dialog is invited about what constitutes stewardship of the intellect. (SLD)

Reviews book on perspectives of social cognition and intergroup relations that extracts key elements of a successful remedy to prejudice and discrimination and offers recommendations for schools seeking to improve intergroup relations. Recommends Aboud's work as a supplemental text for students, researchers, and program designers to reduce…

The January 1994 issue of "The Annals" of the American Academy of Political and Social Science provides an overview of thought and discussion concerning the role of colleges and universities during World War II and in the postwar era. Edited by T. R. McConnell and Malcolm Willey, the issue contained articles by educators, most of whom became more…

Brief reviews of the 10 must-reads for school leaders, selected by editors from all the books reviewed in this issue. (MLF)

The theoretical insight and ethnographic rigor of this collection of essays from participants at Departamento de Investigaciones Educativas (DIE) of the National Polytechnic Institute about the role of the public school in Mexican social and political life promote understanding of educational processes in different contexts, including rural and…

This examination of fundamental educational questions serves as an excellent introduction to the philosophy of education. It includes persuasive arguments for severing the consideration of education from how well it prepares citizens for the marketplace and focusing on what education does for us as human beings. (SLD)

This paper reviews the book "Building Community in Schools," by Thomas Sergiovanni. The book's thesis--that schools are better understood as social rather than as formal organizations--is based on the assumption that the universal need for belonging and connection too often is unfulfilled in schools. The book recommends that school-reform efforts…

Discusses "Strengthening Collegiate Education in Community Colleges" (J. S. Eaton) and "The Contradictory College" (K. J. Dougherty), two conflicting perspectives on community colleges' roles. Argues that both fail to consider the changing needs of today's diverse students. Multiculturalism and commitment to education as…

This commentary expands on Patricia Graham's discussion, in her book "S.O.S.: Sustain Our Schools," of the role of higher education institutions in school reform. The article discusses issues surrounding how knowledge is being created in teacher education and the forms it is taking, the role of school-university partnerships, and new…

Maintains that the studies presented in this collection combine cultural with political analyses to illuminate educational processes. Elaborates on the key constructs, including contextualization with agency, sociopolitical dynamics in designing school practices, and personal self-definition in relation to sociocultural context. (Author/KB)

Considers "The Culture of Disbelief" (Stephen Carter) and "Educating for Intelligent Belief or Unbelief" (Nel Noddings) and how to incorporate religious issues in public school education in light of the persistent religiosity of Americans, a current discomfort with religious issues in public forums, and strong emerging conflicts whose effects are…

To comply with the new U.S. Department of Education Ability-To-Benefit policy, schools need to select tests on the Secretary's approved list. The pertinent aspects of 22 approved tests are individually summarized. The test reviews are based on examinations of the test publishers' technical documentation and the tests. Information provided in the…