During debates in the Greek parliament about the 1997-98 educational reform, comparative argumentation was used by all political parties. Comparative arguments focused on educational realities in the European Union and North America, notably comprehensive schools, teacher appointments, and evaluation methods. Comparative data influenced the…

Introduces a collection of articles that reflect on the complexity of college teaching and learning by acknowledging that teaching and learning at the collegiate level occur within a system of both external and internal influences that are political, organizational, social, and psychological in nature. (SM)

Comments on Fensham's suggestion for a change of driver for developing new curricula in school science. Discusses the support needed for a curriculum driven by societal experts, unintentional contributions to the existing problem, and a personal research agenda. (Author/YDS)

Determines how race and gender of columnist and reader interact to influence readers' perceptions of the credibility of the opinion column. Examines whether regional differences would relate to credibility, using 594 students from two universities 2,500 miles apart. Finds no differences in credibility by race or gender of the columnist until…

Describes the report "The Civic Mission of Schools," released on 13 February 2003. Discusses four key goals related to civic knowledge and skills; community involvement; political involvement; and moral and civic virtues. Notes that the report also provides practical guidance to K-12 schools and colleges and universities on supporting more…

Discusses two books, "Globalization and Language Teaching," by David Block and Deborah Cameron and "The Sociopolitics of English Language Teaching," edited by Joan Kelly Hall and William G. Eggington. (Author/VWL)

A case study approach illustrates the various statistical and political issues that analysts encounter when conducting a salary-equity study for a single institution. Highlights the importance of integrating various stakeholders in the process of assessing salary equity. (EV)

Examines twenty-five year history of the influence of educational politics on educational policy and governance in Sweden, with particular emphasis on the 1990s and the first 3 years of the 21st Century. Concludes that educational politics and new system of school governance has increased access to all levels of education. (Contains 24…

Discusses accountability in U.S. K-12 public education today, describing three ideas of accountability: trust the experts (within the system reform), trust but verify (standards based reform), and trust the customers (free market reform). Examines political obstacles, mixed results of the various reform strategies, lessons learned about…

Uses Chris Raschka's picture book, "Arlene Sardine" (1998), as a focus for a discussion of the homogenizing forces of the market economy. Discusses how the young person's struggle for "identity" must deal with powerful and coercive forces of the marketplace. Argues children's literature can aid in such a struggle by prompting…

Suggests students who go to school under the shadow of high-stakes tests (such as the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills) may feel that their educational lives have been stolen, reduced to the fear of passing or not passing one single exam. Presents transcriptions of four interviews with four outstanding middle school teachers. Suggests ways to…

Examined how contemporary African American women teachers continued the tradition of political involvement, noting the extent to which issues of race, class, and gender identity informed their pedagogy and situating their activities in a black feminist activist tradition. Interviews with two elementary teachers indicated that while they did not…

Argues that children's life experiences as members of families, schools, and the wider society provide understandings that must be taken into account if they are to appreciate the principles and purposes that underpin democratic practices. Investigates the perceptions of children (n=27) on their constructions of power and politics. (DAJ)

Hopes to supply literacy educators with multidisciplinary perspectives on literacy that lead to a broader, richer view of what it means to be literate. Examines how research in the fields of educational psychology, linguistics, anthropology, and critical theory has contributed to the understanding of literacy as a multilayered, complex phenomenon.…

Surveys Indonesian university students to determine how effective the mass media was as an agent of political education in influencing the students' political activities. Notes that the relationship between media consumption and political participation was low. Suggests that several decades of government suppression of so-called "practical…