Offers an account of the teaching of French and German in English elementary schools between 1872 and 1904. Argues that French and German became established in the curriculum during this period. Examines the decline of modern language study at the elementary level relative to the Board of Education's policy. (KO)

Draws on a postculturalist theory of language in order to challenge the hegemony of communicative competence as a formulation of principles on which to base the teaching of English internationally. The current movement in South Africa for People's English is examined. (36 references). (Author/VWL)

The author describes the practice of apartheid in South Africa, particularly as it affects education at all levels. Topics discussed include interracial tensions, sanctions by other countries, and education's role in social change. (CH)

The editor of this issue provides a thematic summary that lists the basic themes of the essays included. The goal of the issue is to evaluate the potential of the educational reform movement for creating social change. (TE)

Instances from case studies of comprehensive schools in the United Kingdom show that cultural influences restrict possibilities of "rational" action by educational leaders. This article warns against business theory and concludes that we need to know more about how people in schools make choices. (Author/TE)

Asks whether virtues such as liberalism, autonomy, and individual development represent the best basis to resist the centralizing attempts of Margaret Thatcher's administration. Argues that it is characteristic of liberalism to fail to recognize either that it is historically located, or that it is itself an ideology. (RS)

A resource document released by the National Association of State Boards of Education recommends standardizing the criteria for approving home instruction and shoring up progress reporting and evaluation procedures. These recommendations have implications for the ways local districts locate and monitor home instruction. (MLF)

Describes recent developments in Sweden's teacher education and schooling, emphasizing issues pertaining to quality in recent government and other documents and noting that present discussions of the issue have specific political origins. The issue of teacher education in Sweden is embedded within and an expression of contemporary Swedish…

A discussion of quality in preservice and inservice teacher education in Greece focuses on the political and social issues that have given it form, differences between preservice training for primary and secondary teachers, changes in inservice education, quality control and assessment, and related research on quality. (SM)

Basic premise informs the previous two articles in this same "International Journal of Educational Reform" issue: education involves knowledge and power; the social construction of literacy cannot be understood outside the political realm. Minority communities must challenge compulsory schooling rituals that mystify rather than liberate and…

Eleven high schools with advanced technology programs were examined for their use of technology, particularly the Internet, in classrooms and school libraries. Discussion includes teacher attitudes, teacher training, local politics and the school environment, the power of the individual to enhance or inhibit success, guidelines and ethics, and…

Describes and criticizes five principles developed as part of a bilingual schooling model and presents eight components of a broadened domain theory of bicultural schooling. Main purpose behind strategy of hard or soft domain separation in bicultural schools is to create curricular space for less powerful languages and cultures that are in danger…

Since schools reflect society, rethinking American education demands rethinking other dimensions of society (government organization, business involvement, and the American family). The article discusses the need to confront many societal and institutional decisions that must precede decisions about the future of American education. The focus is…

Three issues related to Japan's recent passage of an amendment designed to reform two teacher education regulations are discussed: (1) circumstances surrounding implementation of the amendment; (2) essential points of the amendment; and (3) some controversial issues that emerged from consideration of the amendment in the national legislature. (IAH)

Paper describes the experiences of a Lithuanian-American teacher who traveled to Lithuania to conduct summer seminars for early childhood educators. Through the seminars, she not only taught the teachers about whole language, integrated curriculum, and cooperative learning, but she learned about the politics involved in educational reform in…