Between 1795 and 1993, elementary and secondary schooling in New York State shifted from a private/local to a public/state activity. That shift from local to state control and identity involved a lengthy political struggle and reveals the historical working-out of two conflicting themes in the American political tradition: popular democratic…

Drawing on the historical record and primary sources, this book portrays how Native American political confederacies of the colonial era operated and how their organization and underlying principles influenced the founding fathers of U.S. political institutions. A complementary theme of this book is the intense debate about Native American…

This paper analyzes the development of higher education and evaluates the changes being introduced at universities and university colleges in eastern Germany. The paper discusses: (1) a brief outline of higher education in the new German states; (2) main aspects of the socially essential changes; (3) the basic character of the changes; (4) the…

This essay outlines the history of social studies and the continuing push and pull of political favoritism that has marked its path since the second quarter of the century. Seen variously as too liberal, too progressive, even un-American, social studies is perhaps too sophisticated a concept for narrowly trained teachers and administrators. The…

This paper recounts the legal, political, and educational changes in former East Germany as the nation has become reunified, and considers the implications of reunification for institutional research at East German universities. After a brief sketch of legal, geographic, and demographic highlights, the decrepit conditions of East German university…

Section A of the Journalism and Media History section of the proceedings contains the following 16 papers: "Covering the 'World's Most Famous' Trial: An Examination of the Choices Made by Georgia Reporters" (Gregory C. Lisby and Linda L. Harris); "Market Segmentation and Political Capital as Supports for Newspaper Partisanship: The…

Recent changes in and issues related to political authority and educational policy, specifically, decentralization and school responsibility, are examined in this paper. The following concerns are discussed: new administrative structures for states and municipalities; allocation of block grants; political and professional control of goals,…

This book explores three major imperatives of American higher education in the decades ahead. First, colleges and universities must respond to six critical challenges: minority participation; financing quality education; replacing quality faculty; affordability; institutional ethics; and national competitiveness. Second, strong leadership is…

Controlled educational choice, defined as parental or student choice of educational programs within the public school system that is regulated for public purposes, has become a leading proposal for educational reform. This paper reviews evidence from three working models of choice: the Minnesota Postsecondary Enrollment Options program (PEO), the…

This paper provides an introductory examination of the current situation among postsecondary faculty in China. It begins by sketching the intellectual structure as it has waxed and waned during the 40-year history of New China. The bulk of the paper then addresses the current conditions of life and work for those intellectuals who are college and…

One of a series of studies related to the Delphi research project: "Policy Instruments for Higher Education in the Western Europe of the Future", this paper reports that, despite the many complaints about government influences on higher education, both U.S. and European studies show that it has only a limited effect on higher education in…

The inherent political conflict between the professional decision-maker and citizen participation in those decisions is explored in the perceptions of city managers, planning directors, and school superintendents responding to a national mail poll. From the sample of 750 administrators, there were 406 (54 percent) returns, distributed almost…

The likely alternative futures that higher education may face in the next decade are discussed, and suggestions for developing a strategic planning capability in response are offered. It is argued that major demographic, economic, and political disruptions are likely in the 1980s. Demographic trends that will have a major impact on higher…

One of a series of units on business issues designed for secondary school students, this packet focuses on the landlord-tenant relationship as it is affected by political and economic forces. A teacher's guide and student materials are provided in two separate sections. Following an overview of objectives and activities, the teacher's guide…

Analyses of recent Census data reveal that factors most highly associated with poverty are female-headed families, large family size, minority group status, age, unemployment and underemployment, region of residence, poor physical and mental health, little education, lack of income from sources other than wages. (Author)