In almost all democratic countries, a rising incidence of nonformal means of political communication, e.g., polls, pressure groups, demonstrations, suggests a need to broaden participation in political decision making. Outlines two possible approaches for achieving this goal: the dual weighted-vote system and computerized politics. (Author/CS)

The firing of Stephen Mumford, a leading fertility researcher at Family Health International (Chapel Hill, North Carolina), because he exposed the efforts of the Roman Catholic Church to influence population policy may be the beginning of a new campaign to cripple population-control leaders and institutions. (IS)

Examines the literacy program in Cape Verde against theories of cultural production and reproduction. Argues that the use of Portuguese rather than the Capeverdean dialect reproduces a colonial, elitist mentality, and that functional literacy in Portuguese fails to provide Capeverdeans with opportunities for critical reflection and social…

Describes worker education programs in Sheffield, England and Utica, New York; focuses on approaches for evaluating the impact of the pedagogy of liberation on such programs; discusses social psychological dilemmas of workers' education students; and suggests that the content of liberation pedagogy be restructured. (Author/MJL)

Many problems--educational, legal, and political--remain in bilingual education. The history of bilingual education in the United States, its current status, and arguments of those representing various sides of the controversy over bilingual education are summarized. (PP)

The author provides a historical approach to understanding the political, economic, and cultural motives that shaped adult education's philosophy in Poland. Analysis of the pre and post "Solidarity" movement is provided to demonstrate the role of adult education in an ongoing process of learning democratic principles. (SSH)

Information about nuclear weapons and their effects must be taught without imparting hopelessness and despair. Suggestions for teaching about the arms race from an historical perspective and about alternative security systems--international law, conventional weapons, nonviolent resistance--are given. (PP)

Kirp examines the evolution of Supreme Court doctrine since the Brown decision, the course of specific desegregation cases, and the interchange between political institutions and the courts at the local level. He reveals that the decision-making process in school desegregation is both political and constitutional. (Author/SK)

The author notes that the questions raised in Torsten Husen's book, "The School in Question," are the same raised by the eighteenth-century philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau. Specifically, problems inherent in the concept of equal education are considered. (KC)

Responds to a previous dialog between Robert Courchene and Virginia Sauve on teaching Canadian culture in the English-as-a-Second-Language classroom. (13 references) (Author/CK)

Describes switch from secrecy in the plan to realign the inconsistent system of orthography in the Dutch language by the Dutch and Belgian governments to an emotional public controversy. Explores how this struggle turned out to be less a debate on suitable spelling changes than an issue about how legitimate spelling reforms were to be reached and…

Notes the increasing use of English language testing in Australia for nonlinguistic purposes in contexts governed by political pressures. Explores recent test examples and the pragmatic considerations giving rise to such test development. (28 references) (Author/CK)

Criticizes legislation sponsored by Senator Slade Gorton and other Republican members of Congress that would weaken tribal sovereignty and the federal government's trust responsibility. Republican proposals have included limiting tribal jurisdiction of reservation lands, drastically reducing Bureau of Indian Affairs spending, taxing the Indian…

Argues that the U.S. Supreme Court has been an active and liberally biased participant in the U.S. culture war. Historical evidence is presented, including areas of tuition tax credit and segregated private schools, abortion and the Right-to-Life movement, and prayer in public schools. The author discusses how the Supreme Court has strengthened…

Responds to the first paper in this journal issue that discusses using dialog about how to conduct studies and organize projects to help enhance educational quality in various settings. This article agrees with issues the paper raises that are crucial to reform efforts but highlights areas that need more detailed discussion between researchers and…