Teachers can help prevent drug and alcohol use. Surveys of middle and high school students reveal that only 30% have parents who talk with them about drugs but almost 90% have teachers who do so. Parents and teachers need to collaborate for effective drug education, encouraging in- and after-school drug education and violence prevention programs.…

Criticizes K-12 civics and government education for focusing on the various components of government and creating a sanitized vision of how democracy works. Argues that conflict and compromise are parts of the democratic process rather than aberrations. Recommends a shift in focus on both the secondary and postsecondary levels. (MJP)

Portrays the current social studies curriculum reform in British Columbia as a process hampered by disagreements over the input and participation of teachers. Charts the deterioration of this process culminating in the British Columbia Social Studies Teachers' Association's withdrawal from the process. (MJP)

The impact of standards-based school reform practices on African American learners, especially those in special and remedial classes, is examined. A rationale is presented for standards-based reform that is culturally responsive and not premised on high-stakes, along with recommendations for school reform that focus on accountability while…

There is a "gaping separation" in academic achievement between minority group children and White children. Research shows that minority group children can achieve when the following issues are addressed: high expectations geared to clear standards, timely intervention for struggling students, excellent teachers with good ethnic…

A Portland (Oregon) elementary school, formerly designated a local "crisis school," has improved academic achievement through a combination of Total Quality Management, high expectations, and tough love. Quarterly assessments enable staff to keep track of each student and guide instructional decisions. Small classes, on-site professional…

Describes examples drawn mostly from urban areas that required the building of coalitions between schools and communities to create a new, more democratic context for curriculum development. Cited are the nationwide Vocational Education Project, the Southern Coalition for Educational Equity, and the "Rethinking Schools" progressive newsletter in…

Described are some of the factors that have influenced the introduction of instructional change into Black South African classrooms. The Science Education Project of the 1980s, teacher uncertainty, pupil expectations, the epistemology of science education, resources, and the image of innovation are discussed. (CW)

Despite low teacher salaries and per-pupil expenditures relative to other states, South Dakota ranks high in several measures of student performance, including standardized test scores and high school graduation rate. Attributes the state's educational achievement to strong, stable families, small schools that are community centers, and…

Examines the organized contradictions linked to the simultaneous bureaucratization and professionalization of academe that restrict excellence in undergraduate instruction. Presents a general systems model that points out the need for a coordinated set of changes which, if institutionalized, could lead to an academic revolution. Responses by Lee…

School business partnerships play a major role in educational reform. The New Jersey Governor suggests the following guidelines: (1) focus on disadvantaged urban and minority students; (2) increased student and teacher involvement; (3) accountability at all levels; and (4) learning how to learn. Eugene Lang's "I Have A Dream" programs…

Presents an interview with John Haefner, president of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) in 1953. Haefner reflects on social studies education and the constant challenges facing NCSS. Concludes that laboratory schools were important sources of educational change and improvement. (CFR)

Reports research to assess the performance of teachers who graduated from 11 universities, 7 with 5-year programs and 4 considering moving into 5-year programs. Provides results of data collected around four outcome measures: teacher entry into the profession, teacher retention, classroom performance, and leadership behavior. (SM)

North Carolina business leaders, legislators, and educators are reshaping teacher education by simultaneously recruiting the brightest high school seniors and restructuring teacher education. The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program provides scholarships to outstanding high school seniors who agree to teach for four years in a North Carolina…

After discussing the poor quality of classroom instruction for at-risk urban students, the paper examines risks associated with failure, current instructional practices in poor urban schools, and instructional approaches that have improved the education of at-risk students (critical/responsive teaching, cognitively-guided instruction, and…