This article discusses signs that America has adopted a negative view of gifted children, including the undermining of the Jacob Javits Act, grade inflation, and a shift in funding and legal mandates from the gifted toward students with disabilities or low achievement. Reasons for this trend and suggestions for responsive action are discussed. (PB)

Over 500 Navajo high school students completed the Inventory of School Motivation, based on the personal investment model of motivation. Results suggest that the model's most salient elements for this group were sense-of-self components and one task component, striving for excellence. Combinations of variables were useful in predicting student…

A member of the Toronto Board of Education argues that exposure to international languages in elementary school constitutes an important part of a forward-looking, up-to-date educational system. Maintains that the learning of a second or third language has positive social and economic benefits. (MDM)

This review essay considers one recent and two earlier books on pluralism and canon in American college curriculum: (1) "Battleground of the Curriculum: Liberal Education and the American Experience" (W. B. Carnochan); (2) "Canons and Contexts" (Paul Lauter); and (3) "Realms of Meaning: A Philosophy of the Curriculum for…

This article discusses advantages and disadvantages of competency-based education and training (CBET), with emphasis on its application to vocational and higher education in Australia. Argues that, although CBET model is suitable for most vocational programs, the very nature of higher education prohibits its use at colleges and universities. (MDM)

Parents who are considering homeschooling their children should examine whether they are willing to engage in child-led learning, possess genuine humility and compassion, have the inner security to teach others freely, are themselves willing to learn, and possess patience. Discusses the rationale for and implications of homeschooling. (LP)

Discusses the dichotomy between foreign language and literature instruction, arguing that the objectives of the language curriculum are at odds with those of the literature curriculum; many students are not proficient enough to cope with many of the belles lettres texts without additional linguistic support; and students deserve linguistic support…

Outlines the philosophy and goals of Connecticut College's Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts (CISLA), an undergraduate certificate program founded in 1989 with the goal of "internationalizing" every major. Also discusses how the liberal arts tradition can help conceptualize international studies. (Contains five…

Highlights ways to make parents feel that they are an integral part of day-care programs, such as organizing orientation tours for new parents, discussing the administration of the program with parents, and introducing teachers and staff to parents. Notes that, by sharing program details with parents, day-care centers can create stronger…

Discusses the practice of teaching minority (ethnic/immigrant) languages as academic subjects in multilingual settings and points to directions in which the field of applied linguistics must move in order to develop adequate principles of language learning that can support such instruction. Particular focus is on the teaching of Spanish to…

Four mothers of children (ages 10-18) with learning disabilities were interviewed over a 1-year period. Their comments about services provided by educational and mental health professionals indicated high levels of frustration and dissatisfaction. Parental expectations and perspectives differed from those of educators. (Author/JDD)

Discussions with 11 British chemical workers and 13 miners attending continuing education courses highlight the critical importance of the value people place on their own learning needs and the ways in which they interpret the social changes affecting their lives. (SK)

Research on college student learning styles and characteristics suggests that new, nontraditional students prefer a different kind of learning than did traditional students and that expanding the repertoire of learning activities used in college instruction can increase student learning and faculty satisfaction. (MSE)

A survey of 436 community pharmacists completing a distance learning (DL) course of continuing education (CE) in health screening, and 117 nonparticipants, found participants more positively disposed toward DL. Most found DL enjoyable and more suitable than other CE methods. More females and fewer males than expected requested and completed the…

An interview with a Japanese professor of education, Nubuo Dobashi, compared characteristics of Japanese and American higher education systems, concluding that Japan is doing an exceptional job of educating average public school students, but the system has problems of access to higher education and lack of educational opportunities for some. (MSE)