A system of statewide early intervention for children with developmental delays and/or disabilities was established in Bavaria (Germany) in the 1970s. This article discusses current issues, advantages and disadvantages of proximal (homebound) and centralized (center-based) services, the call for a changing model of early intervention, and…

Review of claims for the effectiveness of the gentle teaching philosophy with people having severe problem behaviors and mental retardation finds that the methods were unsuccessful with seven of nine individuals. Although more research is needed, the review suggests that gentle teaching cannot be considered an ethically defensible treatment…

Examines the educational needs of contemporary society, suggesting that existing institutions have failed to adapt to the changing landscape. Argues that educators must shift to a "learning paradigm," which centers all services on the learning needs of students and evaluates programs and personnel based on their contributions to student learning.…

Argues that to give hope back to today's youth, communities and educational systems must be restructured. Proposes the concept of a system of schools, indicating that successful school systems use decentralized and shared decision making, encourage substantial changes, embrace diversity, support continuous improvement, and are accountable for…

Compares publication patterns in four academic disciplines--chemistry, economics, philosophy, and sociology--to identify structural factors that influence publication patterns. Three general categories of publication outcomes were examined: academic affiliations, peripheral status, and the bureaucratization of science. Findings showed that the…

This response to EC 605 995 (on trends in education of individuals with disabilities) contends that constructivist teaching helps students make meaning of their experiences, that active participation in general education activities is a legitimate educational outcome because of its inherent functionality, and that educational funds should be used…

Several points regarding the distinction between second-language theory and practice in professional and public discourse are discussed, including theorists are rarely full-time teachers; theory tends to be imported from other disciplines; discourse tends to be authoritarian and prescriptive; and it underestimates institutional, political, and…

Outdoor adventure-based professionals must take on the challenge of integrating the experiential-learning philosophy and values-clarification component of adventure education into the entire school curriculum. As good role models and good risk takers, adventure-based educators are well suited to push for educational reforms that focus on the…

This article examines East Asian societies' response to students who are gifted academically or talented in the arts, music, or sports, focusing on educational practices in China, Taiwan, and Japan. The study concludes that establishment of gifted education programs is not determined by economic development level or school quality but by the…

Describes the sharp contradiction between the ideal of autonomy in democratic educational thought and the prevailing closed school structure, indicating the contradiction as having stemmed from considerations valid in industrial societies. Suggests a model of a flexible school designed to operate according to the considerations of postindustrial…

Examines educational responses to growing international competition and the consequences of changing family structure against the current background of Europe's social and industrial changes. Describes European citizenship, vocational competencies, language uniformity, education of immigrants, science education, university preparation, and the…

Presents the quality-focused management (QFM) system and explains the departure QFM makes from established community college management practices. Describes the system's self-directed teams engaged in a continuous improvement process driven by customer demand and long-term commitment to quality and cost control. (13 references.) (MAB)

Addresses the relevance of incorporating culture into wilderness adventure education programs. Examples of Hawaiian culture illustrate the application of culture in developing a foundational philosophy, as a teaching tool, as a communication medium, as a way to reach student and course goals, and as a bridge from wilderness to home life. (LP)

Argues that, before art educators can achieve emancipatory goals and practices for others, they must first address institutional and organizational arrangements that constrain their own identities, imaginations, and practices. Calls for local, supportive, professional communities in which this dialog may take place. (CFR)

One in a collection of articles on George Peabody, a self-made millionaire who donated enormous sums to support education, examines Peabody's efforts after the Civil War to support education, highlighting the development of Peabody College (Tennessee) and Peabody's generous use of his fortune for libraries, churches, and educational institutions.…