This paper traces the roots of the new vocationalism to the educational reform movements of the 1980s, with philosophical underpinnings in the work of John Dewey in the early 20th century. It explores other influences, including Marxian critiques of capitalist uses of education and alternative views of education and work presented by followers of…

This monograph reviews the emerging emphasis on learning in education and the development of the concept of "learning colleges," providing specific case studies of reform efforts at community colleges. Following introductory materials, chapters 1-6, all authored by Terry O'Banion discuss the following: Chapter 1 discusses the wave of educational…

Peer mediation programs in schools are an effective way for children to learn the cooperative skills of conflict solving. This paper outlines the implementation of an action research based mediation program within a primary school setting. It examines both the characteristics of successful implementation and the dilemmas of change agentry. A model…

This booklet provides information on the Native American Preparatory School, a residential secondary school in Rowe, New Mexico, for high-achieving Native American students. The school sponsors two programs: a 5-week rigorously academic summer school for junior high school students and, beginning in fall 1995, a 4-year college preparatory program.…

Contributors to this collection raise questions about the wisdom of the Goals 2000 approach to educational improvement. They present new looks at improving America's schools and creating an educational model based on care, concern, and connection. Chapters include: (1) "Introduction: Setting Sail on a Very Long Voyage" (Evans Clinchy);…

Many American Indian youth confront a choice of forfeiting their cultural heritage in favor of academic achievement. The newly established American Indian Magnet School in St. Paul (Minnesota) addresses this issue by integrating American Indian methodology and ideology across all curriculum areas through effective teaching and sensitivity to…

The Dalton School, an independent, progressive school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, was founded in 1919 by Helen Parkhurst. She established a child-centered school that attempted to incorporate the concept of a democratic community within the boundaries of an educational program. The school's innovative program became known as the Dalton…

The history of reform movements in education has culminated in the current work of Theodore Sizer and John Goodlad. This paper discusses and describes the application of Sizer's and Goodlad's research to educational administration programs at the university level. The commonalities between each researcher's perspective, as applied to school…

This booklet for parents explains what children learn in preschools that employ the Creative Curriculum for Early Childhood and the ways in which learning can be reinforced at home. The first sections of the booklet explain the goals and philosophy of experience-based preschools. Goals include teaching children to love reading and school and to be…

The paper describes how Concordia College (Minnesota) restructured its teacher education programs, beginning with secondary education, to develop a knowledge base for teacher education. Data from a survey of employers of first year graduates, from a survey of the graduates themselves, and from comments collected from students and the teachers…

This study examined faculty characteristics and teaching environments of higher education institutions that may hinder or facilitate student-centered pedagogical practices derived from feminist theory. Feminist pedagogy generally advocates democratizing the classroom, building cooperative learning environments, legitimizing personal experiences as…

Wisconsin has been exploring educational targets or outcomes since 1992 in conjunction with legislation mandating student assessment. While the establishment of outcomes does not necessarily indicate that a school subscribes to an outcome-based education (OBE) philosophy, the two could go together. OBE requires identification of outcomes prior to…

This paper posits that Americans have three frames of reference (individualism, diversity of origin, and pluralism) that impact values and actions. Individualism includes understanding relationships with others. The paper identifies and describes five different types of individualism in U.S. culture: (1) Protestant; (2) republican; (3)…

Amish beliefs are exemplified in their parochial schools. Children are taught to be diligent and work hard at the task at hand. "An idle mind is a devil's workshop" is very much in evidence when Amish children study and learn that which stresses the moral and the practical. The home setting emphasizes the utilitarian with its farm work…

This book provides a collection of papers that address issues central to university ideals: the teaching of values, the role of philosophy and literary studies in their sister disciplines (especially history), the precarious balance between research and teaching, the defense of intellectual autonomy, and the public responsibility of the…