Explores the changing expectations of students towards a women professor throughout the course of her pregnancy. The professor made a conscious effort to standardize her classroom behavior throughout the course. Nonetheless, students attributed negative reactions and a general decline in her effectiveness to the debilitating effects of the…

Characterizes U.S. Edward Y. Hartshorne as a "manager of German social recovery." An instructor at Harvard University and protege of sociologist Talcott Parsons, Hartshorne was instrumental in the post-war reopening of German universities. Discusses Hartshorne's activities in military intelligence and psychological warfare, as well as…

Profiles the reeducation and denazification efforts aimed at the training of doctors, lawyers, teachers, and engineers. The efforts espoused few radical innovations and generally supported a return to the well-regarded conditions of the Weimar Republic. These efforts laid the foundation for later reforms in the 1960s. (MJP)

Describes how Oyster Bilingual School's (Washington, DC) two-way Spanish-English language plan functions in its sociopolitical context. It is noted that this plan is part of a larger identity plan aiming to promote social change by socializing children differently from the way they are socialized in mainstream US educational discourse. (46…

A study compared the performance of 21 sixth graders receiving Title I services, 13 with learning disabilities, 9 gifted students, and 58 others on a legal knowledge test after a 3-week course in a mainstream setting. The groups differed significantly on declarative knowledge tasks, but not on procedural and conditional knowledge tasks. Results…

Maintains that cultural beliefs of both the care provider and the patient affect the patient's care-seeking behavior, treatment options, and treatment choices. Provides cross-cultural examples of how they impact on several chronic illnesses and argues for a dual medical approach for treatment. (MJP)

Criticizes the very notion of national standards for history. Maintains that the interpretative nature of historical study does not lend itself to the establishment of a single set of curricular standards. Argues that the most effective means of improving history instruction is to improve education for history teachers. (MJP)

Examines changes in knowledge structures and beliefs related to class management experienced by middle school preservice teachers (n=23). The study charts changes in concerns, skills, and attitudes through the initial, middle, and concluding student teaching stages. A framework of change for class management concepts is reported and influences…

Focuses on the impact of weak labor force attachment on grade retention by the ninth grade among urban black children. Suggests that higher risks of grade retention are associated with welfare dependency only when income is obtained from welfare alone and receipt of welfare is persistent. (MJP)

Describes a unit on North American colonization taught in an eighth-grade history class. Profiles the students' knowledge of colonial history before and after the class through in-depth interviews. Discusses current reform movements in social studies instruction and how they relate to this unit. (MJP)

Uses the film, "Dead Poets Society," to illustrate and discuss postmodernist issues in education. Although ostensibly a straightforward narrative of individuality versus conformity there are problematic areas in this film that lend themselves to multiple readings. The film reproduces a number of powerful myths without benefit of a…

Using National Educational Longitudinal Study data for 1988, 1990, and 1992, this study assessed the effects of six effective schools variables on student achievement level. Regression analysis of the data indicated that the most important effective schools characteristics are an achievement-oriented school culture, principal's autonomy in hiring…

Presents a lesson plan designed to help students think about the qualities, types, and components of leadership and how these relate to the responsibilities of the US President. Includes sets of discussion questions, preceded by informational handouts, concerning, general qualities of leadership, specific leaders, and leadership in everyday life.…

Outlines three lesson plans designed to increase students' knowledge of candidates, public policy issues, and social responsibility as well as develop problem-solving skills. Different sets of activities address the issues of politicians vs. leaders; the relationship among politics, power, and conflict; identifying and prioritizing issues in an…

Provides a brief overview of the current arguments concerning campaign finance reform and congressional term limits. Discusses limits on spending, special interest contributions, "soft money," the power of incumbents, and the role of Political Action Committees. Includes a brief historical synopsis of campaign finance reform movements.…