Distinguishing the contextual realm addressed by ontological education as a valid area for inquiry by those who think about language and communication, this paper discusses an approach to education that is ontological in nature, in that its focus is the "being" of human beings rather than their knowledge. The paper explores several ideas…

The educational system of the future must embrace a learner-centered perspective to maximize high standards of learning, motivation, and achievement for all learners--for both students and their teachers. The learner-centered perspective begins with a focus on knowing and understanding each learner in the context of a deep understanding of the…

The text's primary purpose is to influence the actions of local school leaders, and it argues that standards-based reform is as much about confronting strongly held beliefs and values about schooling as it is about creating standards, documents, and assessment tools. Examples of organizational learning activities designed to increase individual…

This article explains principles of cooperative teaching using the analogy of a "team effort" to include special needs students within the general education classroom. Columns contrast "what it isn't" and "what it is" for the following aspects of cooperative teaching: (1) establishing the ground rules (e.g., it's not…

Educational and economic factors in evidence in the People's Republic of China (PRC) that indicate it will become a major power by the year 2000 are described. The factors were observed during a lecture tour from December 1982 to January 1983. Following a description of the lecture tour, four characteristics of the PRC's educational system are…

An interview which relates the history, philosophy, aspirations and activities of the Progressive Education Association, which began in 1918 in order to formulate new principles for public education. The association was a moving force in changing public schools through the 1920s, '30s and '40s. (ED)

This paper represents one portion of an ongoing effort to elaborate on pedagogical principles based on structural-developmental (largely Piagetian) theory and research. Here, a concept of "problem structure" is developed as a means for identifying physical factors that contribute to children's ability to apply experimental reasoning.…

The dominant model of schooling is a technical-rational management model based on behavioral, positivistic, quasi-scientific language, which has shifted attention from the art and craft of teaching to the "science and technology" of teaching. However, this model and the language which it uses limit educational thinking. Emphasis on…

A discussion of the importance of skeptical probing in educational administration considers fundmental philosophical concerns, issues in inquiry, several theoretical frameworks, sociology of knowledge perspectives, and implications for educational administration programs. Philosophy suggests the best source of knowledge in a field as diverse as…

This paper discusses the professional ethics of education and what it requires. After an introduction, the second section deals with the nature of professional ethics, clarifying a variety of ethical principles. The defining traits of an education profession and the ethical issues involved are discussed. The third section focuses on common…

This paper approaches the concept of curriculum design from a philosophical perspective, arguing that the concept of "design" in curriculum is fundamentally misleading. The paper begins with a series of comments questioning the assumption that curriculum design involves a set of discrete skills or procedures in which one may attain expertise, like…

The evolution of social knowledge into the social science disciplines has stilted intellectual activity; moreover, social education perpetuates these disciplines without critically examining the bases of their existence. Although the most widely accepted criteria for determining a discipline is that it have a structure of basic principles and a…

Author writes about the transformation of the primary schools. (Editor/RK)

Author focused on the basic principles that should inform educational theory and methodology. (Author/RK)