This paper analyzes changes in decision-making in France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom and tries to identify trends in these countries' reforms. In general, the reforms initiated by these five countries redesigned the loci of decision-making between the government levels, modified the modes of decision at these levels, and…

This booklet features articles that explore the roles and relationships in partnerships for enhancing reading and writing in the elementary years. The authors communicate how voices outside the reading profession--parents, community members, and state and federal policymakers--are affecting literacy instruction, and how educators must establish a…

This paper addresses distance learning and academic values from the author's perspectives as student, part-time scholar, and president of the Open University (United Kingdom). The following six propositions are discussed: (1) new technologies may change higher education; (2) new technologies are always superseded by newer technologies; (3) most…

To decrease negative behaviors in American Indian/Alaska Native students, teachers should help children understand, care about, and act upon core virtues such as courage, generosity, humility, honesty, fortitude, and patience. Integrating core virtues throughout the curriculum through stories, class discussions, role-playing, and critical…

This paper describes how one faculty member worked toward becoming a more democratic teacher educator. The instructor proved that by re-examining one's teaching practice and working with students to create a more democratic higher education classroom, this can be achieved. The goal was to scaffold student learning by constructing a democratic…

A study with both quantitative and qualitative components was conducted with undergraduate teaching faculty at Kansas State University for fall 1999 to spring 2001 to study faculty role in addressing cheating at the collegiate level and faculty awareness of the University's honor system and cheating policies. Data were gathered through a variety…

A study examined the extent to which demographic factors predict rural values in Kentucky public school district hiring officials. Among the demographic factors considered were school district metropolitan classification, school district size, community racial composition, decision makers' position in the organizational hierarchy, and decision…

This report provides information about drug testing by American secondary schools, based on results from national surveys. The purposes of this study are (1) to provide descriptive information on drug testing practices by schools from 1998 to 2001, and (2) to examine the association between drug testing by schools and reported drug use by…

This workbook contains information on money management written for adult new readers. A brief self-test "Are You in Control?" is followed by 15 chapters that include information, worksheets, and summary sheets. The chapters are entitled: (1) "Getting Control of Your Money"; (2) "Tracking Your Spending"; (3) "Figuring Your Income and Expenses"; (4)…

This book describes the immigration of tens of thousands of Cambodian refugees to the United States from their war-torn country in the early 1980s, highlighting the efforts of Khmer Americans to recreate the fabric of culture and identity in the aftermath of the Khmer holocaust. Based on long-term research among Cambodians residing in metropolitan…

This document contains three issues, each containing one article, from the American Association of Community Colleges' Service Learning Resource Guide. The first article, "Service Learning and Curricular Integration" (Robert Exley), discusses service learning and curricular integration. It outlines several steps in implementing service learning…

Research indicates that the overwhelming majority of preservice teacher education programs in the United States do not offer significant instruction in the methodology of teaching character, morals, values, and virtue. Consequently, upon graduation these beginning teachers are ill-equipped to deal with the complex social and behavioral problems…

The impact of travel on older adults was examined through semi-structured interviews of a purposively selected sample of eight individuals ranging in age from 56 to 89 years. The interviews were designed to determine whether interviewees' travel had resulted in any transformative learning experiences. The participants (three Caucasian married…

The story of Father Christmas is widespread across Europe and beyond, and for almost six weeks each year dominates children's and adults' lives. This longitudinal study examined parental practices and attitudes towards the Father Christmas story. Participating during the first phase of the study, conducted during November and December 1998, were…

This paper presents information and strategies designed to enable teachers and counselors to understand, practice, and utilize the group process known as open classroom meetings. It considers the types of classroom meetings that can be utilized, such as social problem solving meetings, open-ended meetings, and educational diagnostic meetings. The…