As colleges and universities work to foster multiculturalism, simple solutions are engendered, clustering around two extremes, political correctness and cultural literacy. The role of education is providing a framework for understanding and expanding awareness of one's own situation, and denying one's own cultural heritage does not contribute to…

Introduces a series of articles on philanthropy and the nature of education, suggesting that serious study of philanthropy in education is nowhere near sufficient as a result of insufficient theory and suspiciousness characterizing attitudes and relationships between philanthropists/foundation administrators and outside scholars and investigators.…

To determine the effect on legislative decision making of five selected influences questionnaires were sent to members of the Virginia General Assembly (139 in 1986, and 140 in 1988). A response rate of more than 50 percent was achieved. On 22 of the 26 education-related bills studied, personal feelings were the most important influence. (seven…

Issues in the survival of historically black colleges are examined in light of the recent court decision in "United States vs. Fordice." It is proposed that a national commission of black higher education be established and governance of black colleges be transferred to it by the states. (MSE)

Explores the nature and possible consequences of benign and detrimental aspects of defamiliarization occurring in Northern Ireland's schools. Recent legislation, although apparently sharing power, centralizes power by providing for curricular form and content, promoting a certain management ethic, and relocating some key control mechanisms in the…

Political efforts to desegregate schools fail when political opposition interacts with an institutional structure that ambiguously divides educational authority. Both factors explain failure of Yonkers, New York, to desegregate its schools during the 1960s and 1970s. This article cautions against abandoning school desegregation efforts and demands…

Selection of JoAnn Horton as the new president of Texas Southern University after the resignation of Dr. William Harris is criticized as not providing strong enough leadership for the African-American public institution. Some fear that, because all institutions are open to African Americans, the need for separate African-American institutions will…

Discusses the role of teacher experience in modifying curricula and maintaining skill level. Uses three case studies to demonstrate that teachers possess the skills to create pragmatic curricula and enhance their own skills. Suggests that teachers who transform themselves from deskilled technicians to reskilled practitioners question the…

Argues that Benesch's charge that pragmatism in English for academic purposes (EAP) indicates an accommodationist ideology and an endorsement of current power relations in academia and society is ideologically motivated. Benesch responds by arguing that those who ignore questions of power participate in maintaining the low status of EAP students…

After five years of opposition, voters in the Jefferson County, Colorado, School District approved a $325 million bargain. Describes how the district made major management decisions, rebuilt credibility among voters, and ran the campaign. Cites a budget-tracking tool, School Micro-Financial Allocation Study, that helps school districts track how…

The average life expectancy of a superintendent in a given post is three years. By that time, the position has been steadily weakened by accumulating enemies spawned by unforeseen events. A research survey of 50 "early leavers" discloses 3 primary disincentives: poor board-superintendent relationships; conflict with board over educational…

Reports on a study that provides a nationwide empirical test of the claim that lotteries enhance public education spending. Findings reveal that state per capita income is by far the most powerful determinant of school support. Lottery status of the state does not explain a significant amount of variation in support and effort for education. (MLF)

Surveys the politics and economics of networking and presents four general leadership strategies for making progress in the climate of change surrounding the developing National Information Infrastructure: (1) building the organizational information infrastructure; (2) emphasizing exploration and discovery; (3) cultivating relationships and…

Analysis of how 29 British history textbooks, published between 1961 and 1971, covered Britain's struggle to enter the European Economic Community (EEC) reveals that these texts display an Anglocentric bias and overemphasize the impact of Anglo-French hostility on the actions of Britain and the other members of the EEC. (IAH)

It is suggested that current Australian higher education policy focuses more on quality control than improvement. The way "quality" is presented in current federal policy documents is examined, and it is argued that an improvement approach could be used to generate new practices while meeting external pressures for accountability. (MSE)