Provides a rationale for character education and emphasizes its need, based on the visions of America of Theodore Roosevelt, Alexis de Tocqueville, and others. Briefly lists some useful suggestions from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development for adding character education to the curriculum. Includes a list of references. (MJP)

Reaffirms the responsibilities of social studies teachers to teach character and civic virtue. Identifies a series of public and private character traits that students must learn if democracy is to succeed. These include civility, respect for law, persistence, negotiation and compromise, courage, and tolerance of ambiguity. (MJP)

Three components of excellent middle grades teacher preparation programs include foundations (a broad liberal education and the knowledge base upon which the teaching profession rests), teaching fields (depth beyond the basics in some areas of academic inquiry), and middle grades specialization (experiences specific to learning to function…

Catharine Macaulay's "Letters on Education" (1790) examined education's effect on the character, morals, and knowledge needed for citizens of both genders. Macaulay's work is described within a sociopolitical context, examining her views on human nature, educated individuals, and moral education and discussing implementation of her…

Maintains that the debate over the social studies curriculum has been heavily influenced by a small group of conservative foundations, academics, and the federal government. These groups work toward creating an ideological consensus that promotes a national identity and strives to preserve European American dominant culture. (MJP)

Discusses how to meet elementary school student and staff needs for computer access with a hub of networked computers in the library media center. Topics include types of use, including word processing, desktop publishing, curriculum support, and multimedia presentations; scheduling; assigning staff responsibilities; and suggested allocation of…

In a year-long study of classroom reform toward more constructivist teaching and learning practices, 125 rural seventh graders engaged in design-based inquiry and learned research and communication skills by designing hypermedia materials to teach peers. Data from one participating teacher illustrate the evolution of new instructional practices…

Describes how Oyster Bilingual School's (Washington, DC) two-way Spanish-English language plan functions in its sociopolitical context. It is noted that this plan is part of a larger identity plan aiming to promote social change by socializing children differently from the way they are socialized in mainstream US educational discourse. (46…

Praises the theoretical and methodological potential of the field of political communication. Calls for greater interaction and cross fertilization among the fields of political science, sociology, economics, and psychology. Briefly discusses relevant research methodologies. (MJP)

Presents a historical and pedagogical overview of various types of schools (for example, Montessori, laboratory schools, traditional). Attempts to classify these schools according to types of consciousness (for example, mythological, scientific, workshop) and types of social communities and activities. Considers the interrelation between the…

Examines changes in knowledge structures and beliefs related to class management experienced by middle school preservice teachers (n=23). The study charts changes in concerns, skills, and attitudes through the initial, middle, and concluding student teaching stages. A framework of change for class management concepts is reported and influences…

Using National Educational Longitudinal Study data for 1988, 1990, and 1992, this study assessed the effects of six effective schools variables on student achievement level. Regression analysis of the data indicated that the most important effective schools characteristics are an achievement-oriented school culture, principal's autonomy in hiring…

The magnitude of juvenile violence calls for interventions that are part of a multifaceted, long-term approach toward violence prevention. This article outlines two versions of a school violence prevention program guided by developmental principles, including support and challenge, significant role-taking experiences, guided reflection, a balance…

Going against conventional wisdom that larger doctoral programs are better, Washington University (Missouri) has been scaling back its doctoral enrollments, recruiting more selectively, providing every student with full financial support for six years, and increasing contact between faculty and doctoral students. The new approach has brought…

Notes the challenges posed by cultural diversity in the United States. Presents a demographic assessment of factors relating to the schooling of culturally diverse populations, analysis of challenges associated with the growing number of language-minority students who are Hispanic, and conceptual and empirical perspectives precipitating a more…