Examines the current state and the consequences of unemployment in Russia. Discusses those industries hardest hit and the psychological damage inflicted. Maintains that education is no protection against the loss of a job and little help in finding a new one. (MJP)

The nonmetropolitan dropout rate fell sharply, 1975-93, closing the nonmetro-metro gap. National longitudinal data on dropout risk factors related to family, community, and local labor market reveal that low parental education and income are the greatest barriers to reducing rural dropouts. High school students had unrealistic educational and…

Argues that the constantly changing workplace and the need for workers to be adaptable requires changes in postsecondary curricula. Suggests that jobs created by the new economy will require higher skills. Argues that the new economy will blur demarcations that exist between community colleges, proprietary schools, and other postsecondary…

Discussion of the growing use of practicums and field experience in college programs as a means of preparing students for the world of work looks at ways in which the practicum is conceptualized, implemented, and evaluated. Shortcomings are identified, research into the role of supervision is recommended, appropriate learning objectives are…

Examines the long-term effects of working in high school on educational attainment and labor-force outcomes. Suggests moderate negative effects in that working youths are less likely to attend or complete college. These effects, however, are somewhat mediated by income and employment status. (MJP)

This study examined athletic trainers' demographic and professional credentials. It noted associations between those characteristics and high school, college, and clinical settings, and investigated predictors of salary. Surveys of prospective employers indicated that possessing a doctoral degree best predicted salary. Higher salaries were in…

The articles in this special section on quality assurance describe current and future efforts to create a coherent system of teacher preparation and development. Various experts discuss the status of the teaching profession, new accreditation and licensing developments, state reform movements, National Board Certification effects, and the need for…

Development of Western Governors University, described by creators as a multistate, cyberspace, educational delivery system (virtual university) with a curriculum focusing on work-related skills and competencies, is chronicled; and issues addressed in planning are examined. The idea came from the Western Governors' Association during exploration…

A mother of an adolescent daughter with blindness and learning disabilities focuses on how she helped her daughter improve reading and writing skills by finding a meaningful purpose for those skills in daily life. This article discusses early signs of learning problems, the learning environment, talking books, books in braille, technology,…

A case study of the internship program at LaGuardia Community College (New York, NY) explores employer participation in work-based learning programs. Data from over 17,000 placements show how the program has shifted from occupational training to career exploration and the acquisition of generic workplace skills. (SLD)

Discusses the quality of K-12 physical education programs, the effectiveness of physical education teacher education (PETE) and the ways and extent to which each plays a part in the success or failure of the other. The paper examines how to redesign PETE to ensure systemic success. (SM)

Describes the Barnstable (Massachusetts) School District's approach to educating its population of high-risk students. Provides student profiles, the program's design and curriculum, and results from a qualitative evaluation of its success. (GR)

Analyzes economic and social costs of functional illiteracy in industrialized countries, highlighting Canada and the United States. Identifies the functionally illiterate and the illiteracy-poverty cycle. Estimates the cost of Canadian illiteracy is between $4.2 and $10.7 billion. Suggests measures for preventing adult illiteracy, including…

Describes themes and actions developing within the Holmes consortium of educational institutions and examines Holmes institutions' progress reports detailing efforts to invigorate the liberal arts, professional, and clinical preparation of students going into teaching. (SM)

Investigates relationships between student interest and achievement in science and career choice for Kenyan girls, ages 11-13, in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kisii. Uses open-ended questionnaires and a science achievement test. Correlates girls' low achievement in physics to early career choice biased against technical careers. Includes tables showing…