Describes a trip to Russia by a delegation of educators from the United States to learn about educational reform, examining the 10 principles currently guiding reform efforts in Russia. Participants learned that education there has already changed from the version that existed under the U.S.S.R. governmental structure. (SM)

Addresses how significant the theoretical debates in the humanities and social sciences are for Asian American and ethnic studies and whether theory can be borrowed and applied to Asian American subjects or whether these subjects are too distinctive. The author discusses the intellectual and ideological consequences in deploying postcolonial and…

Uses case study evidence to argue that the emphasis on promoting teacher engagement in reform endeavors obscures the political insights of those teachers who resist reform. Based on study data, the authors reveal that school change literature overlooks the preconditions for reform--the restructuring of teachers' work--and suggest current reform…

Cross-national educational policy "borrowing" seldom has much to do with successful implementation of particular policies in their countries of origin; rather, it has to do with legitimating other related policies. Discusses similarities and differences between the United States and Great Britain with regard to school choice policies and…

Begins with a historical overview of 20th-century German educational policy and concludes with criticism concerning programs initiated during the 1960s. Argues that a policy of building and expansion ignores the core deficiencies of the current system. (MJP)

Concerned with Stephen Ball's theoretical and empirical contribution to contemporary "education policy sociology," this article examines the efficacy of his theoretical eclecticism, highlighting incompatibilities in his interpretation and application of certain social and political theorists. Ball's representation of the policy cycle, as…

A government is a complex system of competing factions that adopts a decentralization policy when the dominant group sees current government structures or procedures as an obstacle to the realization of group interests. Case studies of educational decentralization in Peru, Chile, and Mexico demonstrate that the "state" tends to share…

Proposes that English faculty and department heads often have a negative view of members of the administration. Describes how department heads can establish personal and departmental integrity and maintain it. Suggest that this is the best way to succeed in relations with administrative deans. (HB)

An instructional technology professor has created a documentary film about the killing of four college students at an antiwar protest at Kent State University (Ohio) in 1970. The film highlights the events and their social symbolism. It will be turned into an interactive exhibit housed at the university. (MSE)

Examination of superintendent turnover rates in Nebraska's K-12 and high school-only districts during a 10-year period revealed that average tenure for a school superintendent was almost a year less than the national average and that average tenures in both the largest and smallest school districts were shorter than national and Nebraska averages.…

Family policy is a critical area of concern for family professionals. A model of political decision making is presented that includes values, politics, and capability dimensions. Strategies for family professionals to address each dimension are presented, as are guidelines for effective communication with policymakers. (Author)

This article examined efforts to end affirmative action policies in higher education, which are uniting black and Latino groups, white women, Native Americans, and Asians, especially in California and some East Coast universities. Tables and graphs provide data on student racial and ethnic demographics of institutions of higher education. (MSE)

Discusses budgeting strategies for school media technology programs. Highlights include sources for school funding, school district budget information, control of the budget, how to write an effective budget, working with other community and school groups, local politics, and sidebars that discuss spreadsheets and maintenance budgets. (LRW)

Traces development of Hopi Traditionalism since 1906 as a social movement within the context of Hopi culture and sociopolitical history. Discusses the role of ideology in mediating political and economic conditions of history and collective cultural consciousness. Offers conclusions about the political role of indigenous culture and culturally…

This article considers how liberatory theory (related to critical theory, postmodern thought, and constructivism) can be applied to debates in special education. Liberatory pedagogies encourage oppressed peoples to define for themselves their situations and to define actions that will be liberating. (Author/DB)