This document explores a selection influential books and reports on U.S. education that appeared between 1749 and the 1990s. The analysis begins with Benjamin Franklin's "Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania", early writings on women's and adult education, the McGuffey reader of the mid-nineteenth century, and…

This booklet is a reference guide intended to serve as an introduction to basic terms, services, and supports regarding people with developmental disabilities. The different sections include: (1) a philosophy statement regarding persons with disabilities by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities; (2) guidelines on using…

This paper traces the history of two mission projects and associated schools in rural Kentucky and examines how the missionaries' social constructions of reality with regard to Appalachia determined their actions. The two mission projects studied were Red Bird Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church and Hazel Green Academy of the…

This bulletin discusses the aspects of curriculum development that relate to environmental education. The first of five sections establishes the need for curriculum development that addresses the emotional, cultural, and sociological factors that influence the curriculum framework in view of the need for educational reform. The second section…

This study focuses on the thoughts and activities of James D. Finn and examines the influence that these thoughts and activities had on later events and outcomes in the field of educational technology. Finn aimed to upgrade the status of audiovisual education to a professional field of study and endeavored to change the name of the field to…

The volume "Knowledge Base for the Beginning Teacher" (KBBT), published by Pergamon Press, has been put forward by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education as a guide for colleges of education seeking to establish a knowledge base for their programs. According to the book's summary, its 10 "features" closely…

A number of social studies educators were invited to share their ideas about how they thought about social studies, how they wrote about social studies, and what they told their students about social studies. The papers appearing in this document are the educators' responses and include: "The Social Studies: A Distinct Disciplinary Field or a…

Intended for teachers interested in introducing philosophy to elementary students or for parents wishing to acquaint their children or schools with philosophy, this publication contains an annotated bibliography of resources about philosophy for children and a pathfinder for teachers and parents. The bibliography and pathfinder include a number of…

This membership meeting focused on higher education reform in the 1990s and the mission of educational institutions in the face of changes in educational philosophy, cultural and demographic changes, and shifts in public policy. It is argued that the ongoing academic revolution will define higher education in the next decade, and that research…

Thirteen experts in the visual arts, literature, music, dance, and theater responded to the arguments of E. D. Hirsch's "Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know", focusing particularily on his alarm at the serious slippage that has occurred in the background knowledge and information prerequisite for effective communication.…

This guide identifies ways of improving the program offerings by regular classroom teachers for students identified as gifted learners, through planned enrichment strategies. An introductory section outlines conditions prevalent in public schools that suggest the need for alternative strategies for the instruction of gifted learners, lists the…

Theories and techniques for fostering creativity are described because all students, regardless of intelligence or talent, have artistic ability that should be developed. Four basic visual viewpoints have been identified: the expressive colorist, the hands-on formist, the neat observant designer, and the pattern-oriented draftsperson. These visual…

The way archaeologists use tools and draw inferences about them to disembed meaning from artworks is examined. The prehistoric rock paintings of the Lower Pecos River (Texas) are used to illustrate these ideas. An overview of this rock art, specifically the Amistad reservoir, is provided. The deductions of archaeologists about the semi-nomadic…

The educational goals and principles of the Oregon public school system are presented in this booklet. Described are five belief statements, three goals and component objectives in accordance with national education goals, five superintendent's priorities in conjunction with State Board of Education goals, and indicators or "benchmarks"…

To provide all children with quality education, teachers must rethink their educational philosophies, according to the president of the American Reading Council. Traditional teaching methods, including phonics, basal readers, tracking, and standardized testing appear to be the cause of school failure. The efficacy of the current models of reform…