Using data from the High School and Beyond Survey, the author examines the effects of secondary educational academic tracking on educational stratification relative to racial, sexual, and socioeconomic inequality. Finds that current tracking practices produce less inequality among Blacks and females. Also finds that noncollege programs are not…

Contends that a major focus of contemporary U.S. education is the nature and character of interethnic relationships. Discusses five models of ethnic relations: (1) traditional Eurocentric Racism; (2) Melting Pot Assimilationism; (3) Ethnic Nationalism; (4) Globalism; and (5) Centered Pluralism. (CFR)

Endorses the National Standards for specifying what students should know and be able to do, as well as providing guidelines for demonstrating competency. Stresses that supervisors and teachers, working together and using the standards, can provide a consistent and sequential learning environment. (MJP)

Examines six elementary social studies textbook series for the absence or presence of multicultural perspectives. Identifies Houghton Mifflin and Macmillan as opposite ends of the spectrum. Houghton Mifflin displayed a global-humanistic perspective while Macmillan favored a nationalistic, exclusionary approach. Includes examples from both. (MJP)

This position statement explains the life skills instruction approach, considers why life skills instruction is important for students with disabilities, recommends that such instruction be given in the least restrictive environment (preferably the community), and delineates the responsibilities of general educators and special educators. (DB)

Overviews government policy of national coordination aimed at achieving broad agreements on curriculum objectives for the General Certificate for Secondary Education and providing examinations reflecting that agreement. This article also presents the experience of teachers and examiners regarding the validity of the government's claim as to the…

Reviews the social studies goal of citizenship education. Describes the goals, instructional techniques, evaluation methods, and classroom management strategies used in the Mississippi Freedom Schools during the middle 1960s. Contends that these schools could be used as a model for effective social studies instruction today. (CFR)

Maintains that children's literature provides a rich resource supporting the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) national standards. Asserts that many books can be used in the elementary classroom to develop lessons around the 10 NCSS themes. Recommends two or more children's books for each theme. (CFR)

A survey of 2,000 Western Australia high school seniors indicates that, although most are unlikely to qualify for university, most would prefer it to vocational training. Institutional preferences are linked to their own perceived level of academic achievement and overall image of the institution. Implications for university marketing are…

Argues that law-related education should prepare students to be able to debate global environmental issues. Discusses overpopulation, water quality, and species extinction. Concludes that law-related education's critical contribution may be to prepare citizens to balance competing interests and make decisions that promote the common good. (CFR)

Reports on an interview with the director of Secondary Specialized Education in Russia. Finds concern about the lack of appropriate educational funding to support changes necessary to produce students for a market economy. Calls for more training in economics, marketing, finance, and insurance. (CFR)

Overviews the impetus for an overhaul of the U.S. educational system with special reference to reform of foreign language education. The author covers goals, standards, implementation of new policies, local control, interdisciplinary teaching, teacher education, parental role, assessment techniques and staffing. Two responses to this overview are…

Asserts that students' opportunities to learn subjects can be organized into sequences that span grades and schools. Examines national patterns in opportunities for learning mathematics and science from grade 8 to grade 10. Finds that the level of mathematics in grade 8 is closely related to that taken in high school, but this is not true of…

Asserts that citizenship education has been acknowledged as one of the overarching goals of social studies. Contends that citizenship education and cooperative learning are interrelated concepts and that social studies teachers and students can benefit from using cooperative learning techniques. (CFR)

Describes the role of Emma Willard in encouraging the New York State legislature to provide state support for women's education. Discusses political and social issues in the mid-1800s and Willard's vision of a separate system of higher education for women. Outlines establishment of teacher education programs. (CFR)