In this response to an article that explores the practice of social inquiry in professional work by drawing from the democratic ethics of John Dewey (Danforth, 2001), an argument is made against professionalism and a plea is made for inquiry guided by democratic principles. (Contains references.) (CR)

This article describes recent developments in gifted education in New Zealand. Government initiatives that have resulted in professional development programs and the creation of a gifted and talented community within the Ministry of Education's Online Learning Center are discussed, and recommendations by the Working Party on Gifted Education are…

Suggests three main reasons for incorporating a global dimension in teacher education. Provides and incorporates principles to inform the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in curriculum design, and illustrates ways in which teacher educators can proceed. Includes a creative project to facilitate preparing teachers'…

Summerhill School has recently come under fire from England's educational bureaucracy, who are calling for its closure for noncompliance with the British national curriculum. The school has responded that it will not change its noncompulsory status nor any aspect of its educational philosophy that distinguishes it as a democratic, free school. (LP)

In Gujarat, India, illiterate Rabari nomads see formal education and literacy as irrelevant to pastoralism, but as providing possible alternatives if the pastoral life dies. Access and school culture present many difficulties. The hegemonic values of the international initiative Education for All and associated national policies ignore the…

Proposes four areas of emphasis for environmental education as a context for literacy: (1) basic science concepts; (2) respect for living things; (3) problem solving; and (4) environmental citizenship. (PVD)

The Institute for International Co-operation of the German Adult Education Association, otherwise known as the IIZ/DVV, is based in Bonn. Germany and has more than 40 years of service in various projects in different countries. The Institute is known for the publication of the journal "Adult Education and Development," the most widely…

This chapter reviews the literature related to the historical, philosophical, and contextual issues that frame why adult education sits at the margins of the academy and society.

E-learning and Internet-based distance learning are the latest revolution in higher education. The combination of reasonably priced hardware, readily available bandwidth, and the perception that traditional face-to-face education is not cost effective have driven many educators and administrators to incorporate web-based components into their…

The Educational Video Center (EVC) is an independent nonprofit media organization that has worked to build students' skills in documentary production and media literacy while nurturing their intellectual development and civic engagement. As founding director of EVC, the author has spent more than 20 years working with students and teachers in New…

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…

We seek to understand why persons develop their musical preferences by identifying with a particular cultural group and social background. This identification is greatly shaped by experience in their environment. Resources employed for this identification are mostly different from those employed in schools to foster academic knowledge. We argue…

Research ethics is not only a matter of doing no harm, or even abiding by the guidelines of the Ethics Review Board of the institution. While these matters are important and legal requirements, there is much more at stake in discussions of research ethics. Research ethics establish the foundation upon which research rests. Taking the social…

This paper argues that the development and growth in numbers of Specialist Schools in England raises a number of key questions about the relationships between higher education institutions (HEIs) involved in initial teacher training (ITT) and continuing professional development (CPD) work, and schools now designated as Specialist Schools. It…

In this article, the author, a skeptical writing teacher, gains newfound appreciation for projects that tap creativity--and creative thinking. She argues that teachers need to rethink the genre and make it as appealing as those projects students see as "more fun." The trick is to teach responsibly, knowing when to allow a student to go off and…