Notes that young children's involvement with the political system begins with a strong positive attachment to the country, and the president is prominent in children's minds when thinking of government. Suggests children's books; theme immersion; writing activities, such as research reports and interviews; and mock elections to enhance students'…

Examines the possible impact of the 1994 elections on the National Standards in social studies. Discusses the background, political controversy, and current state of the National Standards movement. Contains a brief bibliography of reference sources. (MJP)

In 1977, a federal court ordered the merger of the University of Tennessee in Nashville (UT-N) and Tennessee State University (TSU), a historically black public institution in Nashville. A study of 15 years of effort reveals that the merger did not alter the role of TSU as an institution essentially black in character and mission. (MLF)

Recent incorporation of a performance assessment in Arizona's test mandate provides an opportunity to examine the assumptions and beliefs underlying measurement-driven reform. Efforts to meld cognitive-constructivist beliefs about pupil learning and assessment contradict behaviorist beliefs about changing teachers and reforming schools. Mandates…

Reflects on issues that have brought Australia's teacher education to a precarious position, speculating on their effect on the reshaping process. The paper highlights economic, political, and social forces, emphasizing the need for a clear sense of the bigger picture before understanding the direction Australian teacher education is taking. (SM)

In recent years, school board recall elections seem to be occurring with greater frequency. Board members from around the country describe their experiences with recall elections, discuss the possible reasons, and cite the personal and community costs. Offers survival tips from individuals who have been through the recall experience. (MLF)

Examines the charter school movement in California and elsewhere, defines a charter school, gives its historical roots, and summarizes the availability of charter schools in states where they are authorized. The author indicates that charter schools are sought mainly in disadvantaged urban communities and that these schools are not facing strong…

Rational choice theory and its three branches (game theory, collective choice theory, and organizational economics) has altered the face of political science, sociology, and organizational theory. This chapter reviews rational choice theory, examines a small body of work that relies on the rational choice paradigm to study educational politics,…

Micropolitical perspectives address the processes through which individuals and groups in an organization acquire and exercise power to promote and protect their interests. This chapter synthesizes major findings on actor roles and relationships in select formal and informal areas, concentrating on profession-patron and principal-teacher…

Examines content themes in this special issue while simultaneously considering trends that may foreshadow new educational politics research directions. Questions the effects of playing-field conditions on reform persistence, explains how educational politics and policy games are played, and acknowledges the disillusionment prevalent in educational…

Claims that the field of rhetoric and composition is currently embroiled in a debate regarding the question of politics in the English classroom. Outlines the current debate and provides analysis. Makes suggestions for teaching rhetorical values by discussing the historical tradition of rhetoric and ethics. (HB)

Title II of Goals 2000 created the National Educational Standards and Improvement Council (NESIC), a federally funded agency to devise national content and performance standards in key academic subjects and certify state-submitted standards. Since Republicans have taken over Congress, this council is finished. Any private successor must mount…

Discusses and problematizes the kinds of "borders" that exist in the English classroom. Considers how English teachers who use computers often establish and maintain borders. Describes political boundaries associated with computer interfaces. Presents tactics for enacting a radical pedagogy of electronic borders. (HB)

Presents a historical overview of the changing relationship between the state and religious schools in North America, providing a conceptual framework for understanding religious schools in a society with a governmental-school ethos. Three sections focus on pivotal historical periods (colonial to common schools, common to progressive schools, and…

A particular ideology about science and objectivity has emerged in a climate of clear preferences concerning desirable and not-so-desirable populations, problems, and program strategies. Although the scientific process is believed to introduce objectivity, the picture that such quantitative methods provide in human services professions is…