This speech expresses the view that changing educational facilities has had little effect on what happens between teachers and children; and that although the shell and shape of education has often changed, what goes on inside remains undisturbed. The body of the speech contains brief comments on a variety of topics, such as enrollment…

Discusses the relationship of school size to understanding of scientific concepts. Results indicated that students in small high schools had fewer instances of understanding and more instances of misunderstanding of the concepts of diffusion and homeostasis. No difference was observed for concepts related to food production in plants and…

In Spring 2005 the Maine Legislature passed legislation establishing an isolated small school adjustment in the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding formula. The adjustment for isolated small high schools (i.e. under 200 pupils) was a reduction in student-teacher ratios in the formula calculations, and in the case of isolated elementary…

In this study 10 first-year African American students (five men and five women) took photographs that illustrated their perceptions of the predominantly white research university they attended and discussed their pictures in subsequent individual and focus group interviews. Two theoretical frameworks provided the structure for the analysis:…

This issue reviews national demographic trends in school segregation, summarizing research findings. Though the national debate on school segregation emphasizes blacks and whites, present-day school segregation includes segregation by socioeconomic level, ethnicity, and native language. The research study examined features of the ecology of…

Increasing numbers of middle school educators believe that the education of young adolescents can be enhanced when teachers and students are members of classrooms and small team groups characterized by long-lasting relationships. This book describes how to offer students the benefits of smallness within increasingly larger schools by ensuring…

This overview examines recent research and thinking about school size and bases discussion on two key assumptions: good schools can differ widely in size, and there is no such thing as "optimal" school size. Rather, the "right" size for a school depends on local conditions and contexts. School size means more than total student enrollment. Grade…

The National Center for Education Statistics conducted a survey of 1,843 public elementary schools that focused on both general education and special education prekindergarten characteristics of the students, classes, personnel, funding sources, and support services. This document summarizes findings relating to prekindergarten special education…

Inspired by the gains in student achievement realized by the small schools movement in New York City, the Oakland Unified School District (California) has proposed creating a network of 10 new, small autonomous (NSA) schools over the next 3 years. School size will range between 250 and 500 students, depending on grade level. "Autonomous"…

Three Australian students who had moved from a small rural primary school to larger secondary schools were interviewed to examine how they experienced the transition. Although the larger environment at the secondary schools was a factor, the transition was not difficult with regard to social aspects, such as making new friends. The teaching and…

This report examines current policies and practices in regard to Oregon high school student participation in college courses and programs. A total of 112 of Oregon's public and private high schools responded to a January 1998 mailed survey concerning early college options programs and policies. It was found that an estimated 6,660 students were…

The Congress of the United States, in passing the National Defense Education Act of 1958, reflected an ever increasing desire on the part of the Nation to improve the teaching of science and mathematics in its schools. The lack of adequate facilities and equipment had long been considered a major handicap to effective science and mathematics…

Reviews the contributions of alternative schools to public education over the past decade and predicts diversity and success for the movement in the 1980s. (WD)

Analysis of problems faced by school systems with surplus schools due to declining enrollment has led to this list of suggestions on achieving flexibility in new building construction. (WD)

A faculty member at a state university expresses his opinion that the structure and functioning of large institutions of higher learning have created a frustrating, dehumanizing learning experience for students, functioning as knowledge factories and not places where students learn to grow and develop as educated persons. (AF)