Examines the politics that arise in the research and evaluation of school reform efforts, drawing on qualitative data from a study of comprehensive school reform to elucidate methodological issues in several areas; discussing how the researchers were perceived, how participants used researchers' research and presence in political ways, and how…

Focuses on introductory courses in special education teacher preparation and the need to include systematic presentation of highly current topics, events, and interrelationships from factor fields, including economics, sociology, law, government, ethics, politics, and medicine. Discusses the need to assist beginning students in making analytical…

Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) is challenging the rights of a biotechnology company to infringe on the university's patents on an invention; the company is challenging the patents' validity. The case is seen as representative of issues concerning technology transfer in which universities, government funding, and private industry interact. The…

A study in one traditionally white South African university suggests that in such institutions, demographic realities, political pressures, educational necessities, and moral imperatives now work for, rather than against, a shift from a historically Eurocentric, male-dominated curriculum to an inclusive one. These universities are challenged to…

Calls for greater attention to be given to the politics of human service delivery in the local arena. Based on a random survey of college course offerings, argues that current undergraduate curricula do not adequately incorporate material that focuses on local issues and community decision making. (RJM)

Describes the educational system of the former Soviet Union and its role during the break-up of the Union. Details characteristics of current efforts to reform the educational system and contrasts them with reform movements in the United States. Cites lessons learned from Soviet and post-Soviet educational experiences. (32 citations) (AJL)

An ethnographic study included observation and interviews with 40 Head Start staff and 50 parents. Teaching and learning were affected by the sociopolitical context in terms of capacity (lack of resources affected expectations of parent involvement), power relations (allocation/withdrawal of resources), and connection (when parents and staff…

Discusses the dominant historic, economic, political, and social issues which affect the retention of African American college students through studies on ecological psychology. Considers the behaviors demonstrated by historically Black colleges which translate into effective retention policies or practices for predominantly White institutions.…

In response to Fischer (HE 527 626), the author considers his proposal to simplify and unify the need analysis used in the Pell grant program and other federal need-based student aid to be useful and well designed, avoiding some common political considerations as it improves procedures and increases equity. The alternative cost-saving aspects of…

Most traditional research methods establish an alienating relationship with those studied and disregard their personal knowledge. An educative research process is a dialogical approach that attempts to develop voice as a form of political protest and to give those studies the authority to pose questions and produce knowledge. (SK)

"Stevens v. Tillman" illustrates the limited reach of federal law in controversies where community activists use extreme, even illegal, methods to exert their will over objecting school officials. Defamation charges against activists for verbal abuses will apparently be very difficult to sustain, given court views that being called a…

The paper discusses the Regular Education Initiative as a conceptual revolution, as a political strategy, and as a flawed policy initiative. It argues that the REI focuses on a small number of highly emotional issues, such as integration, nonlabeling, efficiency, and excellence, which distract attention from deeper analysis. (Author/JDD)

Finds dissatisfaction among professionals in social psychology with the style, focus, and caliber of research. Suggests that understanding knowledge production among academics should include influences on research, such as political ideologies of professors, student selection and socialization, and system survival demands. Provides a four-page…

Includes "Community Work in the U.K.: Reflections on the 1980s" (Miller, Bryant); "Multiplication and Divisions: Trends in Community Development in Ireland since the 1960s" (Cinneide, Walsh); "Reconstruction to Deconstruction: The Transformation of Community Work in Australia" (Meekosha; Mowbray): "Community…

The French language provides a context for comparison of the modernization efforts of Quebec and Madagascar, looking at the following issues: the beginning role of the language in the society, political influences, language needs for technology transfer and the introduction of terminology in societies with well-documented and poorly-documented…