Provides direction for school counselors as they help develop an adequately skilled workforce to compete in the global economy. Discusses the challenge counselors face and ways to respond to the challenge, such as counselors' ideal position for coordinating efforts. Offers implications for counseling practice. (RJM)

A survey of 76 secondary transition teachers resulted in the validation of eighth support strategies: (1) identify and provide social support; (2) identify environmental support and provide environmental changes; (3) promote acceptance; (4) observe student's opportunities for choice; (5) provide choice-making opportunities; (6) identify student's…

Mixed results for U.S. adults on the First International Adult Literacy Survey reveal the worthlessness of posting international test scores without considering cultural, social, and economic contexts. In the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, U.S. eighth-graders' performance was average, but fourth-graders' results were…

Identifies individual and contextual factors relevant to the school-to-work transition for work-bound high school students. Interviews of 45 employed young women and men revealed that those satisfied with their jobs were also satisfied with their lives, were self aware, and were pragmatic and relied upon others. Other findings are presented. (RJM)

Presents two interviews: one with a community college director of research, discussing issues related to assessing student intellectual growth; and the second with two community college administrators, focusing on assessing students' marketability, or the ability to complete an associate's degree and transfer or find employment. (15 citations.)…

Using data from a study of the work experience of 12 pre-16-year-old students, argues that work experience has expanded rapidly without proper debate about its purposes, potential or structure. As experience-based learning, it relies heavily upon debriefing to maximize its learning potential. Although difficult to accomplish, and surrounded by…

With workerless factories, virtual companies, and shrinking governments becoming reality, nations will be hard-pressed to employ millions of "surplus" young people in an increasingly automated global economy. An elitist knowledge sector cannot accommodate enough displaced workers. To advance the goals of civil education, educators must…

Before urban educators can teach work values to their students, they must first stop reinforcing youngsters' antiwork attitudes and their self-defeating "street" ideology. Teachers must stop relying on "nowness," or relevant, fun-time activities and work with students and parents to counter youngsters' passivity, excuse-making,…

Considers three popular educational reforms: enforcing basic academic competencies, professionalism among teachers, and partnerships with business. The authors explain that while effective schools, teacher professionalism, and business approaches to quality and efficiency through teamwork and shared cultural values have much in common,…

Two theme articles are included. "Countdown to Graduation" (Pautler) presents a 6-month plan to help high school seniors make a smooth transition to the next phase of their lives. "Vendor's Viewpoint--Developing Career Behaviors" (Shadrin) urges educators to teach students how to be successful in the workplace in addition to the "what" of work.…

A study of 22 students with mental retardation and their families evaluated the impact of person-centered planning activities on several variables related to a student's individual education program/transition planning meeting. Person-centered planning had a significant effect on parent participation in meetings, but not on discussion of…

Describes the purposes of contextual learning, or learning by associating classroom theory with real-world applications, and its role in workplace education. Reviews three common delivery models of contextual learning: self-contained curriculum components, cross-disciplinary approaches, and integrated curriculum approaches. Discusses assessment…

A critical issue is restoring education's central role--preparing people to live in a democracy, not a "government-industrial complex." Education should not be a training ground for business and industry. Common schools should be championed, not demeaned. Choice and charter school options must be more objectively evaluated. Better…

To counter the factory model, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank (North Carolina) Public Schools have adopted a knowledge-work organization metaphor and applied it to four school subsystems: organizational structure, student accomplishments, teaching and learning, and assessment. Viewing the school as a knowledge-work organization elevates students to…

A new longitudinal study reveals that the negative association between hours worked and grade point average is weaker for high schoolers in cooperative education (co-op) than in "outside" jobs. High school co-op leads to higher wages soon after graduation. However, students who curtail their education to pursue full-time employment could…