This paper places inquiry into teacher education in an historical and critical context, raising questions and themes which are of interest to teacher educators as well as historians. The social contexts and human factors that influenced the development of teacher education in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries are examined. An…

A Coordinator of Performing Arts at Western Piedmont Community College in North Carolina describes the challenges and rewards posed by an open-door educational philosophy in which community service is as important as artistic excellence. The college's mission is to serve the special needs of the community, which primarily consists of state…

This curriculum guide for secondary-level gifted students presents curriculum alternatives which are interdisciplinary and which emphasize a comprehensive study of major content areas through the humanities. The curriculum demands from the student complex learning, critical thinking, in-depth inquiry, creativity, and active participation. The…

A rationale for the teaching of thinking and problem-solving skills is outlined, and the definition of and design for teaching such skills are discussed. Developing the ability of students to think has surfaced in recent years as one of the major purposes of American education. Problem solving has been described as a major type of thinking…

Early in fiscal year (FY) 1988 the Alaska State Board of Education established seven goals and priorities to guide its activities and those of the Department of Education. These goals reflect the legislative mandate that the Department generally supervise and advise Alaska's public schools, recommend plans for improving public schools, and support…

The popular model of collaborative learning views classrooms as contexts where nonmembers of "valued" communities become members by mastering accepted knowledge, discourse forms, and methods. Although attractive to educators, this model allows only for changes in individual students, not in "valued" communities. Further, its…

This paper proposes a seminar designed to provide educators with a conceptual basis for holistic education. The implementation of holistic methods depends on the ability of classroom teachers to make use of the literature on the topic. This course begins by studying the works of physicists who have taken a holistic approach to science and whose…

This paper argues that schools need to help students acquire knowledge and skills for two purposes: (1) to function effectively in a variety of contexts (including work) as they presently exist, and (2) to adapt to changing situations in the future. Effective functioning in the present requires a common body of knowledge, including mathematics,…

This article argues that students are not receiving a high quality social studies education and are not being prepared for citizenship in a democracy; that the most serious failings of social studies courses are conceptual, philosophical, and ideological, and that what social studies experts want students to learn is not what parents and other…

This study contends that there is a need for improvement of science education in the United States. It argues that although once a national priority, elementary science instruction now receives little emphasis in many schools. Consequently, many elementary students are deprived of an opportunity to build a sound science background for subsequent…

Educational policymakers in many countries have been and continue to be faced with the difficulty of reconciling the principle of equal educational opportunity for all students with the provision of differential programming for gifted students, which is often perceived as elitist. This dilemma mirrors the sociopolitical conflict between emphasis…

The philosophy of accreditation is discussed in a paper commissioned by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools for a project on "Rethinking Accreditation." After defining accreditation and distinguishing it from assessment, evaluation and "meta-evaluation" are discussed, including the nature of accreditation in…

This book presents the case for traditional education and discusses the public's role in making education effective. The opening chapter introduces the concept of traditional education, noting its emphasis on the development of a command of language and formation of moral character, and placing the call for traditional education in a historical…

Until recently, kindergartens were designed to foster a positive attitude toward school and provide a well-rounded development through the use of suitable play, art, and social activities. Unfortunately, many kindergarten programs have begun to rely on inappropriate materials and techniques taken from formal first-grade programs. Such programs…

Serious attention should be paid to analysis of the ideological, social, and educational factors that influence Israel's secondary school curriculum. The values of the kibbutz and its educational system are not included in existing school courses and should be integrated into the social studies curriculum. More than 400 curricula, used in schools…