The major issue in the elitist-populist controversy is what art works should be included in the curricula. Elitists defend the choice of exemplary art pieces as instructional materials; populists find this advocacy of exemplars intolerably restrictive. The three major arguments embedded in the populist position are critiqued. (RM)

An analysis of structured interviews conducted in 1973, 1979, and 1984 with state legislators and school lobbyists and 14 case studies that investigated issues in Minnesota state school policymaking reveal that influence relationships do not correspond to the bureaucratic model. Political leaders influence policymaking far more than do…

Self-interested political, corporate, and education leaders have undermined recent West Virginia court decisions mandating educational reform. Three implications are: (1) principals, teachers, parents, and students must be equal partners in the educaiton reform process; (2) a constituency for rural children is needed; and (3) rural educators must…

The success of British higher education in broadening its academic, social, and cultural roles may have begun to undermine the considerable solidarity and autonomy of the academic profession, with its values and privileges under more sustained attack than anywhere in Europe. (MSE)

Discusses the needs for urban anthropology teachers dealing with students of architecture and urban planning to understand and incorporate the assumptions, clients, preferred roles, and data needs of those disciplines into the curriculum content of urban anthropology courses. Urges a practical, applied, project-oriented course. (CJM)

The issues and influences in establishing research policy in the university are many, and their resolutions will be increasingly important for higher education institutions. There is a need for research into the formulation of research policy in higher education. (MSE)

Although some educational progress at grassroot level was made by the Dutch Reformed Church Mission (DRCM) in African Malawi, the DCRM system contributed mostly to underdevelopment. Most Malawians were introduced to semi-literacy under thousands of semi-qualified teachers, and very few Africans who passed through the system later distinguished…

This publication reviews works on educational reform that represent attempts to do more than merely respond in knee-jerk fashion to political pressure for reform. Bruce Joyce and Emily Calhoun, in "Learning Experiences in School Renewal: An Exploration of Five Successful Programs" (Eugene, Oregon: ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational…

This book is the first part of a two-volume collection devoted to issues facing racial and ethnic minority families. These chapters grew out of a conference at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, which focused on the strengths and resources of minority families. They represent an effort to share knowledge that can be used for the design of…

The influences of culture and political status on the schooling experiences and educational attainment of African Americans are explored. The influences of culture and political status on educational research regarding African Americans are also discussed. Traditional learning environments, including public schools, have emphasized the cultural…

Both core curriculum and multiculturalism are highly contested issues in education today. For this discussion, a relatively broad definition of core curriculum is used, ranging from core programs that require students to take one mandated course or a series of them to generalized distribution requirements more commonly put into practice as a core…

This paper examines the importance of political and sociocultural factors in foreign language education, focusing on English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learning in Lebanon. It begins with a historical review of foreign language education in Lebanon, then discusses the current role and status of English in the Lebanese context, which reveals…

This book provides insight into human rights activities of organizations in Zimbabwe, placing the need for human rights education in legal, political, social, and economic contexts. Data come from a research project on human rights education in Zimbabwe. The book criticizes the objectives and programs of people in the field from legal and…

Discusses issues involved in intercountry adoption, and examines problems of adopting children who have experienced war, hunger, and neglect. Considers such alternatives as helping Third World countries to develop their social services and recruiting minority families to adopt minority children. Presents recommendations for developing sound…

Examines the social conditions of Blacks in Southern Appalachia, within the context of the region's developing political economy. Suggests that racial equality has not been pursued beyond the need for cooperation between the races, because of reluctance to disturb the preestablished order of Southern life and values. (Author/MJL)