Continuing professional education has proven to be an acceptable control mechanism to assure professional competence. Officially recognized first under the Engineering, Science, Management War Training Act of World War II, the continuing education movement is still gaining attention in the United States with 16 professions in the 50 states…

This report synthesizes two research projects initiated by the Illinois State Board of Education on the development of a definition of schooling and on the analysis of mandates implemented by the state for special education, bilingual education, and instructional programs in elementary and secondary schools. The report is presented in five…

A literature review and the results of a study of 40 preservice elementary education teachers suggest that an individualized, self-pacing program is a more effective approach to providing future teachers with computer literacy than simply requiring them to take a computer course. (KH)

Raises questions about the value of general education: Is general education a historical ideal whose time is past? Why include general education as a basis for accreditation? In what ways is general education central to other higher learning? Should some specialized institutions be allowed to waive the general education component? (DMM)

Discusses development and implementation of service programs for adolescents. Offers five suggestions to facilitate programs: (1) have clearly stated educational objectives, (2) introduce and promote the program, (3) direct activity toward school and community, (4) make activity more than career preparation, and (5) allow students to react to…

The literature related to the requirement of family life education in high school is reviewed and critiqued. Attitudes, policy, practice, values and potential impact of such a requirement are discussed. Materials relevant to teacher training and parental and child rights are presented. (Author)

A survey of 1,102 Michigan physicians and a second survey of 532 physicians attending continuing medical education classes covered the topic of whether or not continuing medical education should be made mandatory. The results do not support a return to mandatory continuing medical education. (Author/CH)

Disputes the assertions made in "A Nation at Risk" that extended school days and years would be beneficial and that more stringent academic requirements should be adopted. Asserts that the National Commission on Excellence in Education fails to understand both foreign educational systems and American educational needs and values. (PGD)

Upon the request of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Florida State University (FSU) is required to enact a program designed to graduate students with a certain degree of oral communication competency. While communication majors and minors are required to enroll in a public speaking course, no student at FSU has the option…

Graduate students face numerous sources of anxiety. In order to explore students' stressors, student attitudes and anxiety toward two mandatory graduate counseling courses are examined here. All participants were students enrolled in either the Career Development or the Tests and Measurement course during the summer quarter (N=43; Mean Age=33…

The Grand Blanc (Michigan) Community School District sets budget priorities by (1) surveying students, taxpayers, and teachers to learn their preferences for current programs and services; (2) determining the costs of state-mandated programs; (3) listing nonmandated programs and determining their costs; and (4) considering proposed new programs.…

Discussion of college foreign language requirements for students with learning disabilities considers how foreign language courses affect college admission, foreign language as a college graduation requirement, variations in how colleges determine course substitutions, and useful documentation for the substitution process. Insets list suggested…

Attempted to cross validate a model of relationships among social--contextual factors, individual differences, and intrinsic motivation in 219 adolescent students in required courses and elective courses. Results indicate data are best represented by a model that separates social-contextual factors, individual factors, intrinsic motivation, and…

Describes how earth and environmental science courses became one of three required courses for high school graduation in North Carolina and explains the arguments against and in favor of this curriculum change effort. (YDS)

A survey of 166 4-year colleges and universities examined pre-college and within-college foreign language requirements, foreign language petitioning processes, foreign language waiver/course substitutions, teaching methods, and instructional alternatives. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for students with learning…