The variety of ways in which agencies of the state influence the British university curriculum, and in some cases extra-curricular activity, is examined. These sources of influence include expansion, structural changes resulting from retrenchment, promotion of market values, intervention in professional education, quality control, and research…

A multidisciplinary faculty development project at Illinois State University increased faculty expertise about aging, integrated faculty knowledge into undergraduate courses, produced 50 instructional units, increased student knowledge about the rural elderly, generated faculty research on minority and poor elderly, established a multidisciplinary…

Questions what assessment strategies are appropriate for the National Standards and how they might differ from more traditional assessments. Provides guidelines for standards-based assessments and several sets of sample questions. Suggests the adoption of performance assessment strategies for material requiring evaluative thinking. (MJP)

Observes that, although textbook reform in occupied Japan originally supported democratic principles of openness and competition, it later became a mechanism for anticommunist censorship. Maintains that interpretations of Japan's military conduct remain highly politicized and controversial. (MJP)

Provides a selected list of workbooks and other curriculum materials to enhance character education instruction. Includes addresses and phone numbers for 13 research organizations such as the Ethics Resource Center and the Character Education Institute. (MJP)

Asserts that the common perception of homeless children is that they are physically and psychologically impaired by their living circumstances and unable to function effectively in schools. Reports on a case study of efforts to educationally motivate homeless children. Discusses the implications for children's motivation. (CFR)

Presents an annotated bibliography, arranged alphabetically by author, of 85 doctoral dissertations published between 1991 and 1993 on topics related to moral development and values education. Includes dissertations on the teacher's impact on moral development and on teaching about value issues in social studies. (CFR)

Contends that many students enter sociology with an exaggerated belief in their own uniqueness. Presents a description of a course activity in which students see how social forces affect their choices and chances, thereby seeing the sociological perspective on social problems. (CFR)

The Hualapai (Arizona) Bilingual/Bicultural Program is nationally recognized for its achievements in native language literacy and bilingual/bicultural curriculum development. The article presents information on how the program evolved, the role of indigenous educators, community involvement, and biliteracy education in a community with a…

Multicultural education (MCE) is one of four major goals of the Columbus (Ohio) public schools. The district is committed to providing professional development in MCE. The article details an MCE class implemented by Ohio State University and the Staff Development and MCE departments, noting the positive feedback from a program evaluation. (SM)

Reports on a study of the impact of nursery school/preschool education on primary school readiness and achievement of 1,800 English and Welsh children. Finds significant positive effects in reading, writing, mathematics, and science. Discusses the effects of nursery school versus playgroup experience and the role of socioeconomic status. (CFR)

Maintains that the Russian educational system is going through an era of uncertainty. Asserts that one source of this uncertainty is the multitude of interpretations regarding the content and structure of the national educational system. Provides recommendations to create a sociocultural educational environment that fosters individual development.…

Describes a unique approach to teacher education that involved teaching students within a multidisciplinary, collaborative, student-centered learning community. Interviews with students and faculty provided information on the transitional issues they experienced in the process of unlearning old conceptions and imagining new ways to think about…

Maintains that social studies education arose out of a concern for an educational system that prepared citizens for a democratic society. Describes the influence of the National Education Association and the American Historical Association on the National Council for the Social Studies. (CFR)

Five articles offer suggestions for hands-on map making, creative writing instruction in productive environments, assessment of students' number sense, performance assessment for reading, and integrating science and art to celebrate the beauty of autumn leaves. (SM)