This article compares higher education and health care affordability, discussing overall expenditures, the role of government, the impact on private business, social values, institutional confidence, and demand factors. It argues that, although college affordability is a serious problem, it will not dominate future public policy debates to the…

Reports on the controversy about the National History Standards, released in 1994 as part of the Goals 2000 program. Argues that the standards encourage critical thinking skills, active learning, use of primary sources, and integration of art and literature into history. (CFR)

Asserts that increased numbers of immigrants to Israel create problems caused by cultural differences. Describes an inservice workshop on cultural literacy and minimum academic achievement presented to 15 Israeli teachers. Includes a table of sample items from topics considered part of Israeli cultural literacy. (CFR)

Reports on a study of 36 U.S. teachers and 114 teachers, administrators, and students in South Africa on their knowledge and opinions of each other's culture. Finds a low level of knowledge among U.S. teachers. Discovers that neither U.S. nor South African teachers include teaching about the South African elections in their curriculum. (CFR)

Reassesses Dore's "diploma disease" thesis, that schooling in developing countries is focused on attainment of certificates rather than on "quality" education. Suggests that this thesis is based on ethnocentric assumptions and ignores economic development aims imposed by international donors, certification as a means of…

The concepts of four poststructuralist/postmodern authors are examined in terms of their implications for higher education and the academy's values of merit, community, and autonomy. Twelve reactions to postmodern thought are then presented. A summary of postmodernism's legacy for higher education concludes the discussion. (Author/MSE)

Explores some of the radical social changes that have occurred during the late 20th century within Great Britain, and discusses what main change agents existed that moved and so radically altered British society. Finally, the article explores what these change agents have brought about and what can be done to reduce the damage. (GR)

Reports on a study to examine the hidden processes underlying the underrepresentation of women and minority ethnic groups in the academic profession. Identifies the importance of subject communities and their implicit values and assumptions. Illustrates the importance of judgments of academic merit at the very earliest stages of careers for racial…

Asserts that since the middle of the 20th century the inclusion of world musics in music education programs has become increasingly important. Presents three rationales for teaching world music in the United States. Discusses two assumptions and implications for music educators regarding world music. (CFR)

The canons of literature, and their relationship to research, scholarship, and collection development are discussed, arguing that a dilemma exists for the collection development officer between neglecting possible important future materials or collecting such items to the detriment of current research needs. (18 references/notes) (EA)

Eight broad and significant trends in the health care environment are examined, including trends in demography, the economy, epidemiology, patterns of finance and delivery, science and technology, values, and higher education governance and institutional planning. Strategic accommodation of the changes is seen as necessary as the profession moves…

Introduces a group of articles exploring the role of literature in the lives and education of African American children. Benefits that accrue to children from reading literature include the following: (1) aesthetic appreciation; (2) literacy education; (3) cognitive development; (4) social and moral values; and (5) understanding and appreciation…

Critically examines the claims of the Effective Schools Movement, especially those that pertain to the issue of educational leadership. Offers a critique of the traditional school leadership paradigm, suggesting alternative ways to consider both leadership and the Effective Schools Movement through the perspective of critical educational theory.…

Presents study results of relationships between adolescents' perceptions of family and school environments and measures of their creativity, morality, and self-concept. Reports parallel forms of environment schedules to assess the social psychological contexts of families and schools. Concludes that self-concept, morality, and creativity have…

Using public school reform efforts in Chicago (Illinois), this essay attempts to provide a theoretical framework for understanding how the educational governance system responds to political and social value conflicts and discusses how opposing interests have periodically compromised rather than resolved these conflicts. (SLD)