This commentary discusses issues from EC 231 901 on services for mentally retarded individuals: emphasis on structural features of the environment rather than its functional dynamics; developmental progress and personal well-being of the individual superseding ideological and civil liberties missions; and the multifaceted role of scientists as…

Reports on a content analysis of 18 manuals designed for college-level teaching assistants. Finds that frequently included topics focused on intellectual and interpersonal tasks. Suggests that the study's results could serve as a model for teaching assistant materials. (CFR)

Examines the influence of educational experiences on preservice teachers' images and expectations of self as teacher, noting disillusionments in relation to understanding about the meaning of teaching. The paper explores discrepancies between preservice teachers' expectations and realities of schools, classrooms, and students. Relevant strategies…

A critical issue in leadership preparation is serving students with differing needs, goals, and educational experiences. Inspired by the NASSP Alliance project's emphasis on skill development, Florida State University's educational administration program developed a required assessment and career-planning course. Through practical and assigned…

The Attitudes toward Mainstreaming Scale was administered to 233 undergraduate education majors, 110 of whom participated in a follow-up study. Students were generally willing to teach the disabled. Attitudes toward mainstreaming became more positive during professional preparation but declined after student teaching. Implications for teacher…

Explores the interrelationship of educational research to art. Recommends using art as a part of research methodology. Describes the use of a nineteenth-century painting, "The Knitting Lesson," as a metaphor for incorporating the use of research in preservice art education. (CFR)

The paper discusses views of critics of foundational studies in teacher education over the past three decades, examines reasons to study educational foundations, describes a program involving student input to counter some of the criticisms, and reasserts the legacy of foundational studies. (SM)

Presents three categories of an expanded view of scholarly activity in education: (1) studying programs and school cultures to better understand and describe the impact of practice; (2) creating new frames and strategies for taking action; and (3) transforming research and practice through collaboration between schools and universities. (SLD)

Outlines connections between community service experiences and preparing young people for participatory citizenship in a democratic society, identifying components of democratic education practices, distinguishing characteristics that promote democratic citizenship education, and describing several community service learning projects. (SLD)

Asserts that most general sociology textbooks address the theory-research connection either by complicating the issue or by minimizing its significance. Presents an alternative instructional approach that uses visual cues to illustrate the connection between theory and research. (CFR)

The professional development school (PDS) has its roots in efforts to professionalize the teaching profession and in the concept that schools of education must reshape themselves as professional schools. This article outlines the concepts which have spawned and guided PDS implementation and discusses the realities faced by PDS planners and…

W. Edwards Deming rejects school-improvement proposals based on formulating higher standards and enforcing them with performance assessments. To Deming, the Bush Administration's America 2000 education strategy is "a horrible example of numerical goals, tests, rewards, but no method." Emphasizing rationalist performance measures…

Compares broadcasting curricula of two-year and four-year colleges. Finds that most broadcast programs implement a blend of practical and theoretical courses, and that students at two-year and four-year schools are subjected to comparable course work and internship/practicum experience. Suggests that many students are not receiving enough…

This commentary on a study that found the use of a system of least prompts produced increases in rates of conversations between preschoolers with and without disabilities discusses the benefits of the hierarchical model of intervention that maximizes the usefulness of research to practitioners. (Author/CR)

Discusses censorship by librarians and media specialists and considers clashes between professional obligations and theoretical values. Considers the distinction between selection and censorship in both print and electronic sources of information and presents a variety of scenarios dealing with censorship issues. (LRW)