Mexico's higher education system is described, particularly its current rapid expansion. The link between federal financing and evaluation policies is examined. The development of accreditation is chronicled, highlighting the influence of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and its emergence as a major issue in the agenda of higher education.…

Goals of block building in early childhood classrooms focus on physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development. Reports survey results of the value teachers place on block play. Offers illustrations of task cards to use with blocks in math, language arts, social studies, and science. Discusses guidelines and suggests idea cards and sentence…

Discusses research on transition out of high school, presenting a five-category model of transition practices to ensure that students with disabilities will attain positive outcomes when they leave high school. The practices are student focused planning, family involvement, interagency and interdisciplinary collaboration, student development, and…

Reviews recent literature concerning subject choice and curriculum planning. Charts a centrist course between classical humanist ideology and radical reform that would place all power in the hands of students. Maintains that young people need a balanced mix of guidance and freedom. (MJP)

Maintains that in the United Kingdom's educational policy, changes are threatening the status of geography in the curriculum. Notes the decision to exclude geography from the 14-19 core curriculum. Suggests greater dialog and joint school/higher education cooperation to ensure continuity and progression in the curriculum. (MJP)

Suggests teachers' role in educational reform is small because most of their time is spent in the classroom. Educational policy made by administrators, legislators, and publishers, leaves teachers powerless and frustrated. Calls for process allowing teachers to work in parallel with decision makers. (TES)

Asserts that Russian vocational school principals now have to think and act as educational entrepreneurs. Discusses three shortcomings of Russian vocational-technical education. Argues that marketing is the foundation of success and provides three principles to guide educational planning and administration in the future. (CFR)

Examines focus group methodology as a fundamental first step in planning a school and as a data gathering strategy for design of a community survey. The case study of the collaborative effort between two districts and the University of Hartford illustrates the value of focus groups. (SLD)

States that China's educational planning must address pressing economic development needs. Outlines a structure for reform of vocational education to produce a skilled work force. Describes the physical characteristics and work-force economy of the Haicheng area and discusses the area's multiple economic and education problems. Argues that…

Examines the development and implementation of a school compact program in the Detroit (Michigan) Public School System. Demonstrates its initiation by corporate leaders; and highlights some issues faced by elected officials, schools, and the community while making compact agreements. Problems still faced by the Detroit Compact are reviewed. (SLD)

Presents the conclusions and recommendations of UNESCO's 1989 Paris conference on education and information technology. Stresses developing an information base at the level of higher education. Recommends future development strategies for international cooperation with dialogue between education and industry. Proposes information exchange through…

Describes the West Vancouver (British Columbia) School Board's goals related to the appropriate and effective use of information technology as both a school and a community resource. Highlights include social issues, learning issues, professional and personal competencies for teacher-librarians, integration of information delivery systems, and a…

Reviews study that found, through use of a "performance instruction" model, a significant misalignment between the cognitive complexity levels of planned course content and that which is tested. (32 citations) (YKH)

Considers the decline of sociologically informed education courses in England's teacher education system. Teacher unemployment and conservative attacks took their toll on England's educational system. In addition, emphasis shifted away from theory in favor of practical knowledge and classroom management. Although truncated and forced underground,…

Teachers in Ireland fear that benchmarking in the context of the present review of pay and conditions for all public service workers camouflages a shift of concern away from the development of the individual student to concern for the quality of the educational process provided by schools. A recent dispute between secondary teachers and the Irish…