Notes that parent education is not new and traces part of its long history in this country. Concentrates primarily on the development of the first nationwide parent-education organization, which became the PTA, and on the contributions of behavioral science to its mission. (Editor/RK)

Presented originally as an address to the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals, this article explores philosophically and practically what schools must do to be effective institutions. Discussion ranges from a definition of education and its several functions to individualization and competencies. (Editor/RK)

Surveyed as they began their professional education, the majority of 68 nursing and 71 social work students were actively oriented toward their studies. However, nursing students were less willing to participate in planning their studies and were more teacher directed than were social work students. (SK)

Responses from 678 British farmers, 30 environmental professionals, and 30 land managers identified constraints on training: cost, time, remoteness, complexity of the training infrastructure, farmers' place in the life-cycle, and attitudes about past training. Other means besides training may be needed for developing new skills. (SK)

A complex interaction of factors shapes migrant adults' participation in adult basic education: sociocultural context (gender roles, powerlessness) and perceptions of schooling, learning, and education (painful experiences, dropping out but not rejecting learning). Community-based adult education is an appropriate response to the reality of…

Functional/technical definitions of literacy have shifted to the concept of literacies. Focus groups in Scotland (n=113) explored the meaning of literacies, incentives and barriers to participation, and formation of learner identities. Participants indirectly adopted a deficit perspective. They did not share the pluralist conception of theory and…

Definitions of lifelong learning barely mention the Third Age (over age 65). Interviews with University of the Third Age participants in Sydney, Australia, reveal perspectives on life and learning that should be incorporated into programs that are age integrated and prepare people at all life stages to be custodians of the past and trustees of the…

Compares United States students' perceptions of international education and related competencies with similar perceptions of foreign students. Finds that the comments of the two groups were remarkably similar in content--though the members of the two groups were reared in different cultures, each group expressed the same fundamental intentions.…

A survey (n=947) of pharmacists and instructors was compared with 1999 results. Over 90% of both high and low users of formal continuing education also engaged in informal learning. Low users received the most employer support for training. Differences among high, medium, and low users and nonuers suggest a need for diverse formats and services,…

Distance education is not highly popular in Arab countries although it can expand educational opportunities for disadvantaged groups. Traditional philosophies of education and political issues of licensure, accreditation, and language may hinder its development. The Arab League Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization is undertaking…

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Adult Attitudes toward Adult and Continuing Education Scale yielded three factors (enjoyment of learning, perceived importance, and intrinsic value) and identified extraneous items, leading to revision of the scale. Structural equation modeling confirmed the soundness of the revised scale and significant…

A survey of young black women in London schools showed them primarily motivated by the prospect of upward mobility. They believe in the promise of meritocracy and the rewards of credentials, and they take advantage of opportunities to increase their educational qualifications. (SK)

A survey of Kenyan school leavers (200 responses) and 34 interviews show that the exchange value of school-leaving exams is predominant and the use value of vocational programs has little impact. Apparently, 80% of school effort has actual exchange value for only 20% of school leavers, whereas 20% of effort directed at self-employment has…

Discusses how asking adults what they wish they had learned in the arts when they were in school can help determine what to teach children and how to generate support for arts education. (SR)

Three possible motivators for college teachers (individual economic interest, academic virtue, and academic honor) suggest mechanisms that can be used to improve performance. Policies need to address all three motivators; economic levers alone may undermine alternative ways of supporting good work. (MSE)