The meanings that prominent educational researchers give to beliefs, and how this differs from the meaning of knowledge providers, are discussed; and a synthesis is offered about the nature of beliefs. It is argued that teachers' beliefs should be an important focus of educational research. (SLD)

Argues that a hegemonic ideology of superiority in the schools perpetuates the oppression of African Americans. African Americans can overcome this ideology by using their consciousness of social injustice to correct these lies and to construct new institutions that reflect self-definitions of African Americans. (SLD)

This article examines categories of eligibility for Public Law 99-457 Part H services and their relation to factors of multivariate risk and mandated family focus. Professionals are challenged to reconsider the purposes of screening and evaluation as well as the relation between primary health care and community-based early intervention. (PB)

Creating organizationally effective desegregated schools requires sophisticated political, symbolic, and rational thought. A broadened definition of effectiveness is suggested, and attention is given to the key concepts of legitimation and rationality. Constituents central to the school must believe in and support excellence and equity. (SLD)

Clarifies concept of educational quality from international perspective, provides an illustrative range of definitions, and examines some difficulties in implementing "quality" for assessment and planning purposes. Defining quality is linked to the diversity, conflicts, and power divisions within society. Full consensus on the specifics…

Looks at the effect of the communications revolution and how media and people are coming together. The changing roles and responsibilities of teachers are discussed in light of this revolution. (Contains 27 references.) (Author/KRN)

The curricula of black colleges and universities have long been limited by financial constraints, but they have also been hampered by narrow definitions that focused on manual and vocational instruction. This emphasis grew from the assumption of black inferiority that had been used to justify slavery. (SLD)

A discussion of economic and social arguments that advance adult literacy is followed by a review of definitions of literacy, issues of literacy instruction, issues of language, and issues of assessment and evaluation. (91 references) (LB)

Current research on the basic characteristics of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (childhood hyperactivity) is reviewed, and a critique of the most recent classification system is given. The current definition ignores important distinctions among the attention deficit disorders. Primary symptoms and associated adjustment problems are…

This current response to a reprinted 1968 article by Ray Barsch (EC 602 662) focuses on legal aspects of learning disabilities, especially problems in implementing IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and continuing controversies concerning definition, evaluation, instructional intervention, and placement or service delivery…

From a survey of Arizona teachers/administrators and observations in two elementary schools concerning the role of external testing, a typology of teacher orientation toward preparing students to take high-stakes achievement tests is identified. Eight categories of teachers' approaches are contrasted with meanings of test preparation held by other…

Clarifying the meaning of principal effectiveness as a point of departure in the development of an appraisal system in Connecticut is discussed, focusing on the reasons for an appraisal system, how effectiveness should be defined, where to find relevant information, and how best to organize such information. (SLD)

Since the U.S. has no strong centralized educational program, the drive for systemic change is proceeding more slowly and unsystematically than in Japan or France. Systemic reform strategies must emphasize building schools' capacity for self-renewal. Getting from uniformly high standards to diverse delivery systems is the challenge. Marshall…

Explores why mental health has been a contested issue in Head Start and describes recent efforts to bring mental health closer to the center of the program agenda. Describes areas of challenge and innovation that might further the program goal of improving the well-being of parents and children in poverty. Concludes with recommendations for…

Profiles a class exercise that teaches the importance of developing an accurate definition of a psychological construct (guilt, control, altruism). The more precise the definition, the easier it is to choose an appropriate technique to measure that construct. Discusses the Health and Psychosocial Instrument File, a recent measurement database.…