Argues that time and money are the two critical resources to allocate in any plan, and certainly regarding public education. Discusses four important elements in the debate about the use of resources: efficiency, content, effectiveness, and fairness. Outlines difficulties and questions regarding school funding. (SR)

Argues that school choice, with its reliance on market forces, has serious implications for what goes on inside the school and the principal's role. Looks at changes in administrative focus and management style; at administrators and school marketing, with image management increasingly preoccupying school administrators; and the almost exclusive…

Critiques Jerry Becker and Bill Jacob's article on the politics of California school mathematics in the March 2000 "Kappan" for characterizing current California standards as a return to the past. Mathematicians are apolitical, but must coordinate K-12 curriculum frameworks with college-level math courses. (MLH)

Presents four articles considering: (1) the media's role in the coverage of politics; (2) the influence of photography particularly in terms of the president; (3) an event where an Iowa student had a chance to work with professionals while covering politics; and (4) considering scholastic reporters covering national candidates as they learn and…

In England, the General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ) assessment regime has been radical, influential, and controversial. Drawing on interviews with diverse policy-development constituencies, this paper argues that GNVQs presented mainstream policy processes with profound ideological and epistemological challenges undermined by…

In Georgia, support for middle schools has waned. Pressured by high-income parents and the standards/accountability movements, the state superintendent of schools denigrates Georgia's middle schools and has sought to remove special funding and reinstate tracking. However, the "Turning Points" ideals exemplified at Crabapple School remain…

Examines writing on educational theory in the 1950s, a time of presumed consensus, where essentialisms were taken for granted and homeostasis and homogeneity were held up as social aims, noting that the surface civility of the field hid underlying exclusions and tensions and that questions were not being asked about the lack of attention to…

Examines the restructuring of first-year composition at Iowa State University. Discusses the exodus of tenure-track faculty from first-year composition in the late 1970's and early 1980's; why upper administration is now mandating tenure-track faculty's return; why the department of English is cooperating; and potential risks in cooperating or not…

The history of England's attraction to the German education system is reviewed to exemplify four reasons for "borrowing" (copying) foreign models. Rather than simply copying it, England should use the German example to become aware of shortcomings in its own system and their potential solutions. (TD)

Analyzes two paths to creating a broad community support network to enhance urban education reform. The first is a mayoral path, exemplified by Boston, in which the mayor assumes political and fiscal responsibility for school reform. The second is a corporate path, exemplified by Pittsburgh in the 1980s, in which the private sector establishes a…

The founder and 28-year editor of the Appalachian Journal discusses the founding and early days of the journal, his experiences with various Appalachian writers and scholars, his own scholarly work on Appalachia in pop culture, memorable issues and interviews, and the importance of politics and change in Appalachia. (TD)

Introduces articles on the 2000 presidential elections, noting the high visibility of education candidates this election year. While this phenomenon may be a byproduct of the fact that peace and prosperity have left voters with nothing to worry about but test scores, education has definitely arrived as a political issue, transforming education…

Presents a speech delivered at the 2001 Whole Language Umbrella Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Considers the situation behind the call for an education rights movement. Discusses how privatizing, corporatizing, and standardizing are happening in many public spheres. Suggests that schools are being manipulated by corporations. Calls for an…

Describes bipartisan efforts to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; asserts that enforcing state compliance with requirements of the act is major challenge. (PKP)

Surveyed recipients of the Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate award given annually by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Student Experience and Students in Transition and Houghton Mifflin Company. Found that advocates played politics, worked across boundaries, had well-articulated plans, co-opted the opposition, tackled tough…